noun
Very common
los
los
Los (noun) means a wildcat of the genus Lynx, especially the Eurasian lynx. Example: “A zoologist described the los as a shy cat with tufted ears.”
noun
1
A wildcat of the genus Lynx, especially the Eurasian lynx.
"A zoologist described the los as a shy cat with tufted ears."
"The guide told us a los lives in these forests, though few people see one."
"The los had been brought from a northern part of the United States."
"Hunters in the region occasionally spotted a los prowling the tree line."
How to use los
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn old or dialectal word for a lynx.
When to use it
Rare outside dialect or historical use — "lynx" is the everyday word.
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Word forms
- Plural
- loses
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A zoologist described the _____ as a shy cat with tufted ears.
Etymology
From Old English lox, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for lynx; related to German Luchs and Dutch los.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “los” mean?
The word “los” means a wildcat of the genus Lynx, especially the Eurasian lynx. In plain terms, an old or dialectal word for a lynx.
How do you pronounce “los”?
“Los” is pronounced los (/lɑs/ in IPA).
How do you use “los” in a sentence?
Here is “los” used in a sentence: “Hunters in the region occasionally spotted a los prowling the tree line.”
What part of speech is “los”?
“Los” is a noun.
Where does the word “los” come from?
The word “los” comes from Old English. From Old English lox, going back to a Proto-Germanic word for lynx; related to German Luchs and Dutch los.
Is “los” a common word?
“Los” is a very common word in modern English.
What is the difference between a los and a lynx?
There is essentially no difference — 'los' is another name for the lynx, especially the Eurasian lynx. Both refer to the same medium-sized wildcat of the genus Lynx, known for its tufted ears and short tail. 'Lynx' is by far the more common term in modern English.
What does a los look like?
Like other lynxes, a los is a medium-sized wildcat with long legs, large padded paws, and a short, black-tipped tail. Its most striking features are the black tufts on the tips of its ears and the ruff of fur around its face. Its coat is often spotted and thickens in winter.
Where does the los live?
The Eurasian lynx, the animal 'los' usually refers to, lives across the forests of Europe and Asia, from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe through to Siberia and Central Asia. It prefers dense woodland and mountainous terrain, where it hunts deer, hares, and other prey largely alone and mostly at night.
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