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Definition of tien shan
tien shan
tien shan Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A vast mountain system in Central Asia, extending mainly along the border between China, Kyrgyzstan, and Kazakhstan, renowned for its towering peaks, glaciers, and distinct alpine ecology.
Example
"The snow leopard is one of the elusive predators that inhabit the rugged, high-altitude terrain of the Tien Shan."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for tien shanWord Nuance & Usage
Frequently spelled 'Tian Shan' in modern contexts due to the adoption of the Pinyin romanization system, though 'Tien Shan' remains widely recognized in English literature from older transliterations.
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from the Chinese name Tiān Shān (天山), which translates directly to 'Celestial Mountains' or 'Heavenly Mountains'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tien shan. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tien shan