yosemite

IPA/jəʊˌsem.ɪ.ti ˌnæʃ.ən.əl ˈpɑːk/
KK[josˈɛmɪti]IPA/joʊˌsem.ə.t̬i ˌnæʃ.ən.əl ˈpɑːrk/

yosemite — noun

1. Yosemite is a very large protected natural area in the Sierra Nevada mountain ra

1.nounB1
Definition

Yosemite is a very large protected natural area in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. It is famous for its tall granite cliffs, powerful waterfalls, and ancient sequoia trees.

Example

Daniel and his family spent a week camping in Yosemite National Park last summer.

proper noun + National Park for the full official name

The Yosemite Falls drop more than two thousand feet during the spring thaw.

Common collocations
  • Yosemite National Park
  • Yosemite Valley
  • Yosemite Falls
  • visit Yosemite
  • camp in Yosemite
  • hike in Yosemite

Usage Note

Yosemite is a proper noun and always capitalised. In everyday speech it is used without an article ('We visited Yosemite'), though the full official name is Yosemite National Park.

Common Mistakes

Yosimite
Yosemite
the first syllable has one 'i', not two.
the Yosemite' (as a general reference)
Yosemite
proper place names usually do not take an article.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Yosemite is a specific place, while 'national park' is the general category for large protected scenic areas in the US and other countries. A 'wilderness area' is a protected natural region where human activity is strictly limited; Yosemite has some wilderness zones but also has roads, hotels, and visitor centres. A 'nature preserve' is usually smaller and managed primarily for wildlife and plant conservation. In daily conversation, 'Let's go to Yosemite' refers to the park itself, while 'Let's go to a national park' could mean any park in the system.

national parkwilderness areanature preserve

Etymology

MiwokEnglish

The name Yosemite comes from the Southern Sierra Miwok word 'yohhe'meti' (or 'yos.o'meti'), meaning 'those who kill' — a name given by neighbouring tribes to the native people who lived in the valley. Early white settlers used the name for the valley, and it later became the name of the national park established in 1890.