thylacine: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowScientific, formal, academic
Quick answer
What does “thylacine” mean?
A carnivorous marsupial native to Tasmania, now believed to be extinct, with a dog-like appearance and distinctive stripes on its back.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A carnivorous marsupial native to Tasmania, now believed to be extinct, with a dog-like appearance and distinctive stripes on its back.
A symbol of extinction, ecological loss, and cryptozoological mystery; sometimes used metaphorically to refer to something rare or vanished.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical connotations of extinction and rarity in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both UK and US English, confined to scientific and historical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “thylacine” in a Sentence
The thylacine [verb: became/was declared/hunted].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “thylacine” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The thylacine genome has been sequenced.
- A thylacine-like predator.
American English
- The thylacine project aims for de-extinction.
- A thylacine-shaped gap in the ecosystem.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in biology, ecology, and palaeontology papers discussing extinction or Australian fauna.
Everyday
Rarely used; might appear in documentaries or news articles about extinction.
Technical
Used in zoological taxonomy and conservation literature.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “thylacine”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “thylacine”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “thylacine”
- Misspelling as 'thylacene' or 'thylasine'.
- Pronouncing the 'c' as /k/ instead of /s/.
- Confusing it with the Tasmanian devil.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is officially classified as extinct, with the last confirmed specimen dying in captivity in 1936, though unconfirmed sightings are occasionally reported.
Due to the distinctive dark stripes across its lower back and tail, which are reminiscent of a tiger's stripes, though it is not related to big cats.
There have been scientific discussions and projects aimed at 'de-extinction' using genetic material from preserved specimens, but significant technical and ethical hurdles remain.
It was a carnivore, believed to have preyed on small mammals and birds. Its diet and role as an apex predator are still studied by scientists.
A carnivorous marsupial native to Tasmania, now believed to be extinct, with a dog-like appearance and distinctive stripes on its back.
Thylacine is usually scientific, formal, academic in register.
Thylacine: in British English it is pronounced /ˈθaɪləsaɪn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈθaɪləˌsaɪn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “As dead as the thylacine”
- “A thylacine's chance (meaning no chance)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'THY' (like 'thigh') + 'LA' + 'CINE' (like 'cinema'). Picture a movie ('cine') about a striped animal from Tasmania.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE THYLACINE IS A GHOST (of the ecosystem, of history).
Practice
Quiz
What is a thylacine?