prairie

prai-rie · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large open area of grassland, especially in North America.

  2. 2.

    Land covered with grass or similar vegetation, particularly in the central United States and Canada.

Forms

plural: prairies

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    prairie dog — A burrowing rodent native to North American grasslands.
  • •
    prairie fire — A fire that spreads rapidly across grassland.
  • •
    the Prairies — The Canadian provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
  • •
    prairie schooner — A covered wagon used by settlers crossing the prairies.

Related words

Antonyms: forest, mountain
See also: grassland, meadow, plain, steppe
Synonyms: grassland, meadow, plain, savanna, steppe

Etymology

From French prairie ("meadow"), from Old French praerie, from Vulgar Latin prataria, from Latin pratum ("meadow").