mammoth
Meaning: Huge; enormously large. As a noun, an extinct elephant-like mammal with long curved tusks and a hairy coat.
As an adjective, mammoth is an informal but widely used intensifier meaning very large, especially when describing undertakings, tasks, or events. It implies something daunting in its scale. The word derives from the extinct animal, which in turn comes from a Siberian word. Common collocations include 'mammoth task,' 'mammoth undertaking,' 'mammoth project,' and 'mammoth effort.'
Examples
- Organising the evacuation of an entire city was a mammoth logistical undertaking that required weeks of planning. 组织一座城市的全面疏散是一项浩大的后勤工程,需要数周的规划。Organizar la evacuación de toda una ciudad fue una empresa logística descomunal que requirió semanas de planificación.都市全体の避難を組織することは、数週間の計画を要する途方もない大事業であった。도시 전체의 대피를 조직하는 것은 수 주간의 계획이 필요한 방대한 물류 작전이었다.
- The charity held a mammoth fundraising event that attracted over ten thousand participants. 该慈善机构举办了一场大规模的筹款活动,吸引了超过一万名参与者。La organización benéfica celebró un evento de recaudación de fondos descomunal que atrajo a más de diez mil participantes.その慈善団体は1万人以上の参加者を集めた大規模な募金イベントを開催した。그 자선 단체는 1만 명 이상의 참가자를 끌어모은 대규모 모금 행사를 개최했다.
- Woolly mammoth remains preserved in Siberian permafrost have provided invaluable insights into Ice Age ecosystems. 保存在西伯利亚永久冻土中的猛犸象遗骸为了解冰河时代生态系统提供了宝贵的信息。Los restos de mamut lanudo conservados en el permafrost siberiano han proporcionado valiosas perspectivas sobre los ecosistemas de la Edad de Hielo.シベリアの永久凍土に保存されたケナガマンモスの遺骸は、氷河期の生態系に関する貴重な知見をもたらした。시베리아 영구동토층에 보존된 털매머드 유해는 빙하기 생태계에 관한 귀중한 통찰을 제공했다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: journalism, general
Tone: neutral
Origin & History
From Russian 'mamont,' probably from a Siberian language (possibly Mansi 'mang ont,' meaning earth horn). The adjective sense of immensely large developed in the early 19th century from the association with the enormous prehistoric animal.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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