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noun

gazelle

guh-ZEHL

Gazelle (noun) means a small, slender, fast-running antelope found mainly in Africa and Asia. Example: “A cheetah chased the gazelle across the savannah.”

noun
1
A small, slender, fast-running antelope found mainly in Africa and Asia.
"A cheetah chased the gazelle across the savannah."
"Herds of gazelle grazed near the watering hole."
verb
1
To move quickly and gracefully, like a gazelle.
"She gazelled across the finish line ahead of the pack."

How to use gazelle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA fast, graceful antelope — also used to describe quick, elegant movement.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
a herd of gazelles graceful as a gazelle

Word forms

gazelled past tense, gazelles plural, gazelle plural, gazelles singular

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A cheetah chased the _____ across the savannah.

Etymology

Borrowed via French from Arabic ghazāl.

Origin: French

Rhymes for gazelle

See all rhymes for gazelle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gazelle” mean?

The word “gazelle” means a small, slender, fast-running antelope found mainly in Africa and Asia. In plain terms, a fast, graceful antelope — also used to describe quick, elegant movement.

How do you pronounce “gazelle”?

“Gazelle” is pronounced guh-ZEHL (/ɡəˈzɛl/ in IPA).

How do you use “gazelle” in a sentence?

Here is “gazelle” used in a sentence: “A cheetah chased the gazelle across the savannah.”

What part of speech is “gazelle”?

Depending on how it is used, “gazelle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “gazelle” come from?

The word “gazelle” comes from French. Borrowed via French from Arabic ghazāl.

How many meanings does “gazelle” have?

“Gazelle” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, slender, fast-running antelope found mainly in Africa and Asia.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial