Hippopotamus

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ËŒhɪp.əˈpÉ’t.É™.mÉ™s/
• Hyphenation: hip + po + po + ta + mus

Origin

From Latin and New Latin hippopotamus, from Ancient Greek ἱπποπόταμος, from ἵππος (hippos, "horse") (English hippo-) + ποταμός (potamos, "river").

Full definition of hippopotamus

Noun

1. A large, semi-aquatic, herbivorous (plant-eating) African mammal () that spends most of the day living in water, but comes on to land at night to feed. Of all living land animals, only the rhinoceros and elephant are larger.

Synonyms

• (semi-aquatic mammal) hippo, river horse

Derived terms

• pygmy hippopotamus

Related terms

• hippo-
• potamic

Synonyms

• (a large, herbivorous African mammal) hippo, river horse