great horned owl: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
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Quick answer
What does “great horned owl” mean?
A large, powerful, and widespread owl of the Americas, with prominent feather tufts on its head, known for its adaptability and deep hooting call.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, powerful, and widespread owl of the Americas, with prominent feather tufts on its head, known for its adaptability and deep hooting call.
The term can be used as a specific example of a top avian predator, a symbol of wilderness or wisdom, or a metaphor for silent observation and nocturnal prowess.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The species is native to the Americas. The term is used in British English only in contexts like nature documentaries, zoology, or discussions of North American wildlife; it is not part of the UK's native fauna lexicon.
Connotations
In American English, it carries strong connotations of the North American wilderness. In British English, it is a recognisable but exotic species name.
Frequency
The term is of high frequency in relevant American contexts (e.g., birdwatching, natural history). Frequency is low in general British English.
Grammar
How to Use “great horned owl” in a Sentence
The [great horned owl] verb-ed...We saw a [great horned owl] in the...The call of the [great horned owl] is...[Great horned owls] are known to...Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biological, zoological, ornithological, and environmental science contexts.
Everyday
Used in general descriptions of wildlife, especially in North America, or when discussing notable bird sightings.
Technical
The standard common name for the species in taxonomy and field guides.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “great horned owl”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “great horned owl”
- Incorrect article use: *'I saw great horned owl.' (Correct: 'I saw a great horned owl.')
- Spelling: 'horned' not 'hornet' or 'horny'.
- Using as a plural without -s: *'We saw three great horned owl.' (Correct: 'owls')
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are different species. The great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) is native to the Americas, while the Eurasian eagle-owl (Bubo bubo) is found in Europe and Asia. They are closely related but distinct.
It is named for the prominent tufts of feathers on its head, which are not actually ears or horns but resemble them. Its real ears are located on the sides of its head.
They are powerful predators but pose virtually no threat to humans. They will defend their nests aggressively if approached, but unprovoked attacks are extremely rare.
Its classic call is a deep, stuttering series of hoots, often described as 'hoo-h'HOO-hoo-hoo.' Pairs may also call in a duet.
A large, powerful, and widespread owl of the Americas, with prominent feather tufts on its head, known for its adaptability and deep hooting call.
Great horned owl is usually neutral in register.
Great horned owl: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌhɔːnd ˈaʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɡreɪt ˌhɔːrnd ˈaʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'GREAT' size, with 'HORNED' (pointy ear tufts like horns), and it's an 'OWL'. It's the 'tiger of the sky' in the Americas.
Conceptual Metaphor
A GREAT HORNED OWL IS A SILENT PREDATOR; A GREAT HORNED OWL IS A SYMBOL OF WISDOM AND WATCHFULNESS.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary semantic field of the term 'great horned owl'?