noun
Uncommon
mammoth
MA-muhth
Mammoth (noun) means an extinct, elephant-like animal covered in shaggy hair, with long curved tusks, that lived during the Ice Age. Example: “Scientists found a frozen mammoth preserved in the Siberian permafrost.”
noun
1
An extinct, elephant-like animal covered in shaggy hair, with long curved tusks, that lived during the Ice Age.
"Scientists found a frozen mammoth preserved in the Siberian permafrost."
adjective
1
Extremely large.
"They faced a mammoth task cleaning up after the storm."
"The company posted mammoth profits last quarter."
How to use mammoth
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the prehistoric woolly elephant-relative, or, as an adjective, simply "huge."
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mammoth task
mammoth effort
woolly mammoth
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Word forms
- Plural
- mammoths
- Comparative
- more mammoth
- Superlative
- most mammoth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scientists found a frozen _____ preserved in the Siberian permafrost.
Etymology
From an old Russian word, mámont, probably borrowed from a Uralic word meaning "earth horn."
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “mammoth” mean?
The word “mammoth” means an extinct, elephant-like animal covered in shaggy hair, with long curved tusks, that lived during the Ice Age. In plain terms, either the prehistoric woolly elephant-relative, or, as an adjective, simply "huge.".
How do you pronounce “mammoth”?
“Mammoth” is pronounced MA-muhth (/ˈmæməθ/ in IPA).
How do you use “mammoth” in a sentence?
Here is “mammoth” used in a sentence: “Scientists found a frozen mammoth preserved in the Siberian permafrost.”
What part of speech is “mammoth”?
Depending on how it is used, “mammoth” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “mammoth” come from?
The word “mammoth” comes from Russian. From an old Russian word, mámont, probably borrowed from a Uralic word meaning "earth horn.".
Is “mammoth” a common word?
“Mammoth” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “mammoth” have?
“Mammoth” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an extinct, elephant-like animal covered in shaggy hair, with long curved tusks, that lived during the Ice Age.
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