chaparral
noun
chap·ar·ral ˌsha-pə-ˈral 
-ˈrel
1
: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks
broadly : a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees
2
: an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in southern California
Synonyms
- boscage
- boskage
- bosk
- bosque
- bosquet
- brake
- brushwood
- coppice
- copse
- covert
- thicket
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the rabbit darted into the chaparral
Recent Examples on the Web The ridge slopes off steeply on both sides into native chaparral, which is home to many resident critters such as raccoons, bobcats, opossums, coyotes, woodrats and even the occasional deer. 
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2022 The fire, which authorities estimate has the potential to grow to 500 to 1,000 acres, was burning through dense front-country chaparral, driven by erratic winds, Ferguson said. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2022 Waist-high chamise chaparral closed in on my legs and backpack, but never blocked the striking vistas to the south. Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022 And much of the region is covered in chaparral, the most flammable mix of brush land vegetation in the country. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2021 Forests may produce a different fragrance than grasslands, chaparral or deserts, for example. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2021 From the thick chaparral comes the characteristic cooing sound that is only made by males. San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2022 The weather service does not plan to issue wildfire advisory because recent rains have dampened the chaparral across most of the county. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2022 Hints of dusty chaparral, sandalwood and pronounced mineral follow with exotic spices. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2022 See More
Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 July 2022 The fire, which authorities estimate has the potential to grow to 500 to 1,000 acres, was burning through dense front-country chaparral, driven by erratic winds, Ferguson said. Alex Wigglesworth, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2022 Waist-high chamise chaparral closed in on my legs and backpack, but never blocked the striking vistas to the south. Washington Post, 9 Mar. 2022 And much of the region is covered in chaparral, the most flammable mix of brush land vegetation in the country. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Dec. 2021 Forests may produce a different fragrance than grasslands, chaparral or deserts, for example. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Dec. 2021 From the thick chaparral comes the characteristic cooing sound that is only made by males. San Diego Union-Tribune, 5 Mar. 2022 The weather service does not plan to issue wildfire advisory because recent rains have dampened the chaparral across most of the county. Gary Robbins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2022 Hints of dusty chaparral, sandalwood and pronounced mineral follow with exotic spices. Sara L. Schneider, Robb Report, 8 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Spanish, from chaparro dwarf evergreen oak, from Basque txapar
First Known Use
1825, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing chaparral
chaparral
noun
as in grove
a thick patch of shrubbery, small trees, or underbrush the rabbit darted into the chaparral Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- grove
- forest
- brushwood
- thicket
- bush
- copse
- coppice
- bosque
- bosquet
- woodland
- bosk
- jungle
- wood
- boskage
- brake
- brush
- canebrake
- scrub
- scrubland
- tangle
- covert
- boscage
- bramble
- hedge
- greenwood
- wildwood
- woodlot
- stand