mara
C1Specialist/Biological
Definition
Meaning
A type of large, long-legged South American rodent, resembling a hare.
The term is used almost exclusively to refer to the specific Patagonian cavy, a large rodent found in parts of Argentina. It is not typically used in extended or figurative senses.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Its usage is highly specific to zoology, wildlife, and natural history contexts. It is a hyponym (specific type) of rodent or cavy. The word does not hold general currency and may be unfamiliar to many native speakers.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant regional difference in meaning or usage. The word is used identically in both biological/specialist contexts.
Connotations
None beyond the zoological referent.
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both varieties. Used only in specialist texts, documentaries, or wildlife contexts with equal rarity.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The [Patagonian] mara [verb e.g., grazes, inhabits, resembles].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biological, zoological, and ecological research papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Might be encountered in nature documentaries or high-level crossword puzzles.
Technical
Used as a precise taxonomic term in zoology and wildlife conservation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The mara is an unusual animal from South America.
- Unlike most rodents, the mara has long legs and prefers to run rather than burrow extensively.
- Conservation efforts for the mara, or Dolichotis patagonum, focus on protecting the open scrubland of central Argentina from agricultural conversion.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a MARAthón-running rabbit from Argentina - that's the speedy, long-legged MARA.
Conceptual Metaphor
None established in common usage.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Не переводите как "мара" (призрак, видение, морок). Это ложный друг переводчика. Это конкретное название животного.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'mara' as a general term for a rabbit or hare. It is a specific rodent species.
- Pronouncing it /ˈmeɪrə/ (like 'mayor') or /ˈmɛrə/ (like 'merry') instead of /ˈmɑːrə/.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'mara'?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Despite its hare-like appearance, the mara is definitively a rodent, belonging to the cavy family (Caviidae), which also includes guinea pigs.
In the wild, they are endemic to parts of Argentina. They are also kept in some zoological parks worldwide with South American exhibits.
No, it is a specialist zoological term. Most English speakers would not know the word unless they have an interest in wildlife.
It is typically pronounced /ˈmɑːrə/, rhyming with 'Sarah'. In some American pronunciations, the first vowel may sound more like the 'a' in 'cat' (/ˈmærə/).