elephantine
gb/ˌɛləfˈæntˌin/ us/ˌɛləfˈæntˌin/
C1
Inglese
Accezioni
0 accezioni
adjective
C1
property
1
extremely large and heavy
very big and heavy
Schema d'uso:
[an] elephantine [object/body/structure]
Errore comune:
Used mainly in formal or literary descriptions; for everyday speech, learners often choose big, huge, or massive instead.
Sinonimi
massive (Common and neutral; less vivid than elephantine.)
|
enormous (Emphasizes great size; not specifically heavy.)
|
hulking (Suggests a big, heavy, awkward shape.)
Contrari
tiny (Opposite in size.)
|
slender (Opposite in overall bulk.)
|
lightweight (Opposite in heaviness.)
Collocazioni
elephantine size
|elephantine proportions
|elephantine bulk
|elephantine frame
|elephantine statue
|elephantine monument
|elephantine machinery
|elephantine volume
|elephantine building
|elephantine figure
Temi
describing_people
|describing_things
|size
Esempi
- The hotel lobby was dominated by an elephantine marble staircase.
- He lugged an elephantine suitcase up three flights of stairs.
- The report grew into an elephantine document no one wanted to read.
Esempi per chi studia
- The sofa is elephantine and hard to move.
- They built an elephantine statue in the square.
adjective
C1
property
2
clumsy and slow-moving
moving in a slow, heavy, awkward way
Schema d'uso:
elephantine [gait/steps/movements/manner]
Errore comune:
Elephantine can suggest clumsiness, not just size; it may sound critical when describing a person.
Sinonimi
lumbering (Strongly focuses on heavy, awkward movement.)
|
ungainly (Emphasizes lack of grace; not necessarily slow.)
|
ponderous (Suggests slow heaviness in movement or style; often formal.)
Contrari
nimble (Opposite in quick, light movement.)
|
graceful (Opposite in elegance of movement.)
Collocazioni
elephantine gait
|elephantine steps
|elephantine movements
|elephantine manner
|elephantine approach
|elephantine dancing
|elephantine grace
|elephantine stride
Temi
movement
|behavior
|description
Esempi
- In his elephantine boots, he clattered up the stairs.
- The dancer’s elephantine movements drew a few laughs from the crowd.
- Her writing has an elephantine pace, slow and difficult to get through.
Esempi per chi studia
- He walked with an elephantine gait.
- The robot moved in an elephantine way.
adjective
C2
property
3
like an elephant in form
looking like an elephant
Schema d'uso:
elephantine [ears/skin/features]
Errore comune:
This sense is less common than the figurative ‘very large/heavy’ sense.
Sinonimi
elephant-like (More direct and transparent; less formal.)
Collocazioni
elephantine ears
|elephantine skin
|elephantine features
|elephantine head
|elephantine profile
Temi
animals
|appearance
|description
Esempi
- The mask had elephantine ears and a long painted trunk.
- The creature’s elephantine skin was thick and deeply wrinkled.
Esempi per chi studia
- The costume has elephantine ears.
adjective
technical
C2
property
4
abnormally swollen or enlarged
very swollen (medical)
Schema d'uso:
elephantine [leg/limb/swelling]
Errore comune:
Rare outside medical contexts; don’t use it for ordinary swelling.
Sinonimi
edematous (Technical term meaning swollen with fluid; less figurative.)
|
grossly enlarged (Clinical phrasing; less metaphorical.)
Contrari
normal (Not enlarged or swollen.)
|
unswollen (Specifically the opposite of swollen.)
Collocazioni
elephantine leg
|elephantine limb
|elephantine swelling
|elephantine enlargement
Temi
health
|medicine
Esempi
- The clinician noted elephantine swelling of the lower leg.
- The report described an elephantine enlargement of the affected limb.
Grammatica
Forma base
elephantine
IPA
GB/ˌɛləfˈæntˌin/
US/ˌɛləfˈæntˌin/
Sillabe e accento
ele - phant - ine (3 sillabe)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ine)
Forme flesse
Adjective
- Base: elephantine
Famiglia di parole
Core family
elephant
noun A1
Espressioni
elephantine memory
1/ˌɛləfˈæntˌin mˈɛmɚi/
fixed phrase
very strong long-term memory
a very good memory
Esempi
- My grandfather had an elephantine memory for names and dates.
- She has an elephantine memory and never forgets a birthday.
of elephantine proportions
1/əv ˌɛləfˈæntˌin pɹəpˈɔɹʃənz/
fixed phrase
extremely large in size
extremely big
Esempi
- They served a dessert of elephantine proportions.
- The renovation turned into a project of elephantine proportions.
- The final bill was of elephantine proportions.