goanna

/ɡəʊˈæn.ə/ (bre, ipa) · /ɡoʊˈæn.ə/ (ame, ipa) · /gō-ˈa-nə/ (ame, mw)

goanna — noun

  • goannasingular
  • goannasplural

1. any of the big monitor lizards native to Australia, often with sharp claws, a lo

1.名詞C2
釋義

any of the big monitor lizards native to Australia, often with sharp claws, a long forked tongue, and a body that can grow over two metres long.

例句

Manuela watched a goanna climb the trunk of the old gum tree.

subject + watched + a goanna + action verb

On the bush walk, Christopher spotted a goanna sunning itself on a flat rock.

collocation: spot / see a goanna in the bush

同義詞
  • monitor lizard

    the wider scientific group; 'goanna' is the Australian member of this family

  • perentie

    the largest goanna species in Australia, used as a more specific name

文法句型

a goanna

the goanna

用法筆記

Almost always used in Australian English; speakers elsewhere usually say 'monitor lizard'. Often appears with the indefinite article ('a goanna') for one animal and as a bare plural ('goannas') for the group.

常見錯誤

❌We saw a goanna in the London zoo's reptile house.
✅We saw a monitor lizard in the London zoo's reptile house.
💡'goanna' refers specifically to the Australian species; for lizards elsewhere, use 'monitor lizard'.
❌The goanna stung the dog.
✅The goanna bit the dog.
💡goannas bite and scratch; they do not sting.