snowy owl: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal to neutral; common in zoological contexts but also in everyday language when discussing wildlife.
Quick answer
What does “snowy owl” mean?
A large, predominantly white owl (Bubo scandiacus) native to Arctic regions.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, predominantly white owl (Bubo scandiacus) native to Arctic regions.
Often used symbolically to represent cold, wilderness, or wisdom in literature and media.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major lexical differences; the term is identical in both dialects.
Connotations
Both associate it with cold, beauty, and rarity; in the UK, it might be less familiar due to geographic distance.
Frequency
Similarly low frequency; slightly more common in North American contexts due to its presence in Canada and northern US.
Grammar
How to Use “snowy owl” in a Sentence
the snowy owl isa snowy owl hassnowy owls areVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “snowy owl” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We went owling in the Highlands to look for snowy owls.
American English
- They often owl-watch in the winter to spot snowy owls.
adjective
British English
- The snowy conditions in Scotland are ideal for snowy owls.
American English
- We experienced a snowy winter, perfect for snowy owl sightings.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used; may appear in eco-tourism or wildlife conservation marketing.
Academic
Frequently used in biology, ecology, and environmental science literature.
Everyday
Common in discussions about birds, wildlife documentaries, and children's education.
Technical
Used in ornithology for species classification, behavior studies, and conservation efforts.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “snowy owl”
- Misspelling as 'snow owl', incorrect capitalization in 'Snowy Owl' when not starting a sentence, or using it to refer to any owl in snow.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In the Arctic regions of North America, Europe, and Asia.
Primarily lemmings, but also other small mammals and birds.
They are currently listed as vulnerable due to habitat loss and climate change.
They have thick feathers for insulation and can hunt in low light conditions.
A large, predominantly white owl (Bubo scandiacus) native to Arctic regions.
Snowy owl is usually formal to neutral; common in zoological contexts but also in everyday language when discussing wildlife. in register.
Snowy owl: in British English it is pronounced /ˈsnəʊi aʊl/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈsnoʊi aʊl/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'snowy' for its white color like snow, and 'owl' for its bird type.
Conceptual Metaphor
Wisdom in harsh conditions or purity in isolation.
Practice
Quiz
What is a snowy owl?