noun
a large mountain system in south-central Europe; scenic beauty and winter sports make them a popular tourist attraction
• Syn: ↑the Alps
• Instance Hypernyms: ↑range, ↑mountain range, ↑range of mountains, ↑chain, ↑mountain chain, ↑chain of mountains
• Part Holonyms:
↑Switzerland, ↑Swiss Confederation, ↑Suisse, ↑Schweiz, ↑Svizzera, ↑France, ↑French Republic, ↑Italy, ↑Italian Republic, ↑Italia, ↑Austria, ↑Republic of Austria, ↑Oesterreich
• Part Meronyms: ↑Dolomite Alps, ↑Matterhorn, ↑Mont Blanc, ↑Monte Bianco, ↑Tyrolean Alps, ↑Weisshorn
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/alps/, n. (used with a pl. v.)
a mountain range in S Europe, extending from France through Switzerland and Italy into Austria, Slovenia, and Croatia. Highest peak, Mont Blanc, 15,781 ft. (4810 m).
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[alps]a mountain system in Europe that extends in a curve from the coast of southeastern France through northwestern Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, and southern Germany into Austria. The highest peak, Mont Blanc, rises to a height of 15,771 feet (4,807 m)
Origin:
late Middle English: via French from Latin Alpes, from Greek Alpeis, of unknown origin
Useful english dictionary. 2012.