curassow: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2+Zoological / Technical / Ornithological
Quick answer
What does “curassow” mean?
A large, ground-dwelling bird of tropical American forests, related to guans and chachalacas.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, ground-dwelling bird of tropical American forests, related to guans and chachalacas.
Any bird of the genus Crax, Mitu, or Nothocrax, notable for its glossy black plumage, often with a distinctive curly crest and brightly coloured bill or facial wattles.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in usage; the term is uniform in English-speaking scientific communities.
Connotations
Neutral, scientific.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language, but standard within its technical domain in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “curassow” in a Sentence
[Species] curassow is found in...The [adjective] curassow (e.g., wattled)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “curassow” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Not used as a verb.
American English
- Not used as a verb.
adverb
British English
- Not used as an adverb.
American English
- Not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- Not used as an adjective.
American English
- Not used as an adjective.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, and conservation literature.
Everyday
Virtually never used except by birdwatchers or in tropical wildlife documentaries.
Technical
Standard term in ornithology and taxonomy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “curassow”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “curassow”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “curassow”
- Misspelling: 'curassouw', 'currasow', 'curacao'. Incorrect plural: 'curassows' (correct) vs 'curassow' for plural.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different birds. Curassows are from the Cracidae family in the Neotropics, while turkeys (Meleagris) are from North America.
Yes, despite being largely terrestrial, curassows are capable of strong, though usually short, flights to escape predators or reach roosting sites in trees.
Several species, like the Blue-billed Curassow and the Alagoas Curassow (likely extinct in the wild), are critically endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.
They are primarily frugivorous (fruit-eaters), but also consume leaves, seeds, and small invertebrates.
A large, ground-dwelling bird of tropical American forests, related to guans and chachalacas.
Curassow is usually zoological / technical / ornithological in register.
Curassow: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkjʊərəsəʊ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkjʊrəsoʊ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CURA (like care for) + SSOW (sounds like 'so'). 'Care for the SSoW' – a bird needing conservation.
Conceptual Metaphor
None in common usage.
Practice
Quiz
What is a curassow?