hyena

noun

hy·e·na hī-ˈē-nə How to pronounce hyena (audio)

plural hyenas also hyena

: any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers

hyenic

hī-ˈē-nik

-ˈe-nik

adjective

Did you know?

There are three species of hyena— doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa. Actually more closely related to cats than to dogs, hyenas have coarse fur, four toes on each foot, long forelegs, claws that do not retract, and enormously strong jaws and teeth. They live alone or in packs and may be active by night or day. Hyenas are noted for scavenging but will also attack live prey. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, whose calls alternately resemble wailing and maniacal laughter, ranges through much of sub-Saharan Africa. Yellowish or grayish with dark spots, it is about 6½ ft (1.8 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and weighs up to 175 lb (80 kg). The hyena has been known to attack people and even to carry off young children.

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web For dinosaurs that principally bit down with their jaws like a hyena—rather than catching with claws like a cat—having little arms that were out of the way may have prevented them from being broken, torn off or otherwise injured.

Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 On her daily visits to the London Zoo, the girl befriends a hyena.

Ben Croll, Variety, 19 June 2022 During her character’s meltdowns, often in response to slights and offenses to propriety, Ms. Harris deployed a screech that had the urgency of a hyena in its death throes.

New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022 However, based on geology of the basin, researchers estimate the teeth belonged to a hyena that prowled between 850,000 and 1.4 million years ago.

Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022 The advertisement features a misfit hyena named Hattie and Carl, a lonely zookeeper, who bond over a shared sense of humor.

Jamie Lang, Variety, 18 Nov. 2021 The hyena samples tested presumptive positive at a lab at Colorado State University, and the cases were confirmed by the national lab.

From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2021 The hyena samples tested presumptive positive at a lab at Colorado State University, and the cases were confirmed by the national lab.

Thomas Peipert, ajc, 5 Nov. 2021 The stock market came in like a lamb and went out like a hyena in the third quarter.

John Dorfman, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English hyane, hyene, borrowed from Anglo-French hyene, borrowed from Latin hyaena "striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)," borrowed from Greek hýaina, from hy-, hŷs "swine (of either gender, wild or domesticated)" + -aina, noun suffix — more at sow entry 1

Note: The allusion in the name, which could be taken to mean "female swine," is presumably from the animal's supposed resemblance to a hog. For the value of the suffix -aina, see note at baleen.

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

单词	hyena
释义	hyena noun hy·e·na hī-ˈē-nə plural hyenas also hyena : any of several large strong nocturnal carnivorous Old World mammals (family Hyaenidae) that usually feed as scavengers hyenic hī-ˈē-nik -ˈe-nik adjective Did you know? There are three species of hyena— doglike carnivores found in Asia and Africa. Actually more closely related to cats than to dogs, hyenas have coarse fur, four toes on each foot, long forelegs, claws that do not retract, and enormously strong jaws and teeth. They live alone or in packs and may be active by night or day. Hyenas are noted for scavenging but will also attack live prey. The spotted, or laughing, hyena, whose calls alternately resemble wailing and maniacal laughter, ranges through much of sub-Saharan Africa. Yellowish or grayish with dark spots, it is about 6½ ft (1.8 m) long, including the 12-in (30-cm) tail, and weighs up to 175 lb (80 kg). The hyena has been known to attack people and even to carry off young children. Example Sentences Recent Examples on the Web For dinosaurs that principally bit down with their jaws like a hyena—rather than catching with claws like a cat—having little arms that were out of the way may have prevented them from being broken, torn off or otherwise injured. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 July 2022 On her daily visits to the London Zoo, the girl befriends a hyena. Ben Croll, Variety, 19 June 2022 During her character’s meltdowns, often in response to slights and offenses to propriety, Ms. Harris deployed a screech that had the urgency of a hyena in its death throes. New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022 However, based on geology of the basin, researchers estimate the teeth belonged to a hyena that prowled between 850,000 and 1.4 million years ago. Rachael Lallensack, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Feb. 2022 The advertisement features a misfit hyena named Hattie and Carl, a lonely zookeeper, who bond over a shared sense of humor. Jamie Lang, Variety, 18 Nov. 2021 The hyena samples tested presumptive positive at a lab at Colorado State University, and the cases were confirmed by the national lab. From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2021 The hyena samples tested presumptive positive at a lab at Colorado State University, and the cases were confirmed by the national lab. Thomas Peipert, ajc, 5 Nov. 2021 The stock market came in like a lamb and went out like a hyena in the third quarter. John Dorfman, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2021 See More Word History Etymology Middle English hyane, hyene, borrowed from Anglo-French hyene, borrowed from Latin hyaena "striped hyena (Hyaena hyaena)," borrowed from Greek hýaina, from hy-, hŷs "swine (of either gender, wild or domesticated)" + -aina, noun suffix — more at sow entry 1 Note: The allusion in the name, which could be taken to mean "female swine," is presumably from the animal's supposed resemblance to a hog. For the value of the suffix -aina, see note at baleen. First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing hyena laughing hyena spotted hyena laughing hyena spotted hyena Kids Definition hyena noun hy·e·na hī-ˈē-nə : a large doglike mammal of Asia and Africa that lives on flesh
随便看	axletrees axman axmaster axmen Axminster axminsters axo- axodendrite axogamy axoid axoidean axoids axolemmas axolotl axolotls axon axonal axone axonemal axoneme axonemes axones Axonia axono- Axonolipa

hyena

noun

Did you know?

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing hyena

Kids Definition

noun