Prairie - Definitions from Dictionary.com

65 results for: Prairie

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1) - Cite This Source - Share This

prai·rie

Audio Help [prair-ee] Pronunciation Key

–noun

1.	an extensive, level or slightly undulating, mostly treeless tract of land in the Mississippi valley, characterized by a highly fertile soil and originally covered with coarse grasses, and merging into drier plateaus in the west. Compare pampas, savanna, steppe.

2.	a tract of grassland; meadow.

3.	(in Florida) a low, sandy tract of grassland often covered with water.

4.	Southern U.S. wet grassland; marsh.

5.	(initial capital letter) a steam locomotive having a two-wheeled front truck, six driving wheels, and a two-wheeled rear truck.

[Origin: 1675–85; < F: meadow < VL *prātāria, equiv. to L prāt(um) meadow + -āria, fem. of -ārius -ary

]

—Related forms

prai·rie·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc.
Prairie

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American Heritage Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prai·rie Audio Help (prâr'ē) Pronunciation Key
n. An extensive area of flat or rolling, predominantly treeless grassland, especially the large tract or plain of central North America.

[French, from Old French praierie, from Vulgar Latin *prātāria, from Latin prāta, meadow.]

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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

Online Etymology Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
prairie

tract of level or undulating grassland in N.Amer., 1773, from Fr. prairie, from O.Fr. praerie (12c.), from V.L. *prataria, from L. pratum "meadow," originally "a hollow." The word existed in M.E. as prayere, but was lost and reborrowed to describe the American plains. Prairie dog is attested from 1774; prairie schooner "immigrant's wagon" is from 1841.

WordNet - Cite This Source - Share This

prairie
noun
a treeless grassy plain

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This
prairie [ˈpreəri] noun

(often in plural) in North America, an area of flat, treeless, grass-covered land

Arabic:	مَرْج، أرض واسِعَه مُعْشَوْشِبَه وبِدون أشْجار
Chinese (Simplified):	牧场，林间小空地
Chinese (Traditional):	牧場，林間小空地
Czech:	prérie
Danish:	prærie
Dutch:	prairie
Estonian:	preeria
Finnish:	preeria
French:	prairie
German:	die Prärie
Greek:	λιβάδι
Hungarian:	préri
Icelandic:	gresja
Indonesian:	padang rumput
Italian:	prateria

Japanese:	大草原
Korean:	(북미의) 대초원
Latvian:	prērija
Lithuanian:	prerija
Norwegian:	prærie
Polish:	preria
Portuguese (Brazil):	pradaria
Portuguese (Portugal):	pradaria
Romanian:	prerie
Russian:	прерия
Slovak:	préria
Slovenian:	prerija
Spanish:	pradera, llanura
Swedish:	prärie
Turkish:	ağaçsız geniş çayırlık ova

The American Heritage Science Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prairie Audio Help (prâr'ē) Pronunciation Key
An extensive area of flat or rolling grassland, especially the large plain of central North America.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

U.S. Gazetteer - Cite This Source - Share This

Prairie City, OR (city, FIPS 59650) Location: 44.46158 N, 118.70954 W
Population (1990): 1117 (462 housing units)
Area: 2.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 97869

Prairie City, IL (village, FIPS 61548) Location: 40.62060 N, 90.46450 W
Population (1990): 497 (188 housing units)
Area: 2.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 61470

Prairie City, IA (city, FIPS 64470) Location: 41.59807 N, 93.23537 W
Population (1990): 1360 (526 housing units)
Area: 1.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 50228

Prairie City, SD Zip code(s): 57649

Prairie Grove, AR (city, FIPS 57170) Location: 35.97825 N, 94.31752 W
Population (1990): 1761 (773 housing units)
Area: 3.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 72753

Prairie Farm, WI (village, FIPS 65150) Location: 45.23760 N, 91.98076 W
Population (1990): 494 (207 housing units)
Area: 2.5 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 54762

Prairie Hill, TX Zip code(s): 76678

Prairie Home, MO (city, FIPS 59726) Location: 38.81494 N, 92.58957 W
Population (1990): 215 (101 housing units)
Area: 1.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 65068

Prairie View, IL Zip code(s): 60069

Prairie View, KS (city, FIPS 57525) Location: 39.83173 N, 99.57294 W
Population (1990): 111 (78 housing units)
Area: 0.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 67664

Prairie Village, KS (city, FIPS 57575) Location: 38.98670 N, 94.63590 W
Population (1990): 23186 (10031 housing units)
Area: 16.1 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 66208

Prairie Rose, ND (city, FIPS 64320) Location: 46.81730 N, 96.83437 W
Population (1990): 49 (15 housing units)
Area: 0.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie Ridge, WA (CDP, FIPS 56170) Location: 47.13786 N, 122.14741 W
Population (1990): 8278 (2945 housing units)
Area: 22.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie County, AR (county, FIPS 117) Location: 34.82761 N, 91.55725 W
Population (1990): 9518 (4340 housing units)
Area: 1673.1 sq km (land), 77.2 sq km (water)

Prairie View, TX (city, FIPS 59336) Location: 30.08319 N, 95.98912 W
Population (1990): 4004 (698 housing units)
Area: 18.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie Grove, IL (village, FIPS 61678) Location: 42.28035 N, 88.26645 W
Population (1990): 654 (221 housing units)
Area: 10.9 sq km (land), 0.4 sq km (water)

Prairie County, MT (county, FIPS 79) Location: 46.85343 N, 105.37290 W
Population (1990): 1383 (749 housing units)
Area: 4497.8 sq km (land), 15.6 sq km (water)

Prairie Creek, AR (CDP, FIPS 57125) Location: 36.33886 N, 94.06144 W
Population (1990): 1268 (627 housing units)
Area: 11.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie Du Chien, WI Zip code(s): 53821

Prairie Du Roche, IL Zip code(s): 62277

Prairie Du Sac, WI Zip code(s): 53578

Prairie du Chien, WI (city, FIPS 65050) Location: 43.04322 N, 91.13996 W
Population (1990): 5659 (2393 housing units)
Area: 11.3 sq km (land), 1.9 sq km (water)

Prairie du Rocher, IL (village, FIPS 61639) Location: 38.08128 N, 90.09761 W
Population (1990): 540 (228 housing units)
Area: 1.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie du Sac, WI (village, FIPS 65100) Location: 43.29107 N, 89.72850 W
Population (1990): 2380 (929 housing units)
Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)

Belle Prairie City, IL (town, FIPS 4793) Location: 38.22315 N, 88.55148 W
Population (1990): 64 (26 housing units)
Area: 1.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Prairie, MS Zip code(s): 39756

Prairie, AL Zip code(s): 36771

Sun Prairie, WI (city, FIPS 78600) Location: 43.18368 N, 89.23234 W
Population (1990): 15333 (5718 housing units)
Area: 18.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53590

Fancy Prairie, IL Zip code(s): 62613

East Prairie, MO (city, FIPS 21052) Location: 36.77905 N, 89.38412 W
Population (1990): 3416 (1420 housing units)
Area: 3.4 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 63845

Burnt Prairie, IL (village, FIPS 9889) Location: 38.25049 N, 88.25771 W
Population (1990): 71 (39 housing units)
Area: 0.2 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 62820

Brush Prairie, WA (CDP, FIPS 8465) Location: 45.73140 N, 122.55138 W
Population (1990): 2650 (916 housing units)
Area: 20.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 98606

Blooming Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 6580) Location: 43.86847 N, 93.05446 W
Population (1990): 2043 (785 housing units)
Area: 3.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 55917

Big Prairie, OH Zip code(s): 44611

Pretty Prairie, KS (city, FIPS 57700) Location: 37.78023 N, 98.01973 W
Population (1990): 601 (277 housing units)
Area: 0.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 67570

Rolling Prairie, IN Zip code(s): 46371

Star Prairie, WI (village, FIPS 76825) Location: 45.19831 N, 92.53179 W
Population (1990): 507 (201 housing units)
Area: 5.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 54026

Garden Prairie, IL Zip code(s): 61038

Lester Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 36728) Location: 44.88372 N, 94.03974 W
Population (1990): 1180 (461 housing units)
Area: 1.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 55354

North Prairie, WI (village, FIPS 58400) Location: 42.93718 N, 88.39562 W
Population (1990): 1322 (414 housing units)
Area: 3.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 53153

La Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 35648) Location: 47.22732 N, 93.49008 W
Population (1990): 438 (181 housing units)
Area: 2.8 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 55744

Parkers Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 49732) Location: 46.15380 N, 95.32931 W
Population (1990): 956 (439 housing units)
Area: 2.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 56361

La Prairie, IL (village, FIPS 42080) Location: 40.14711 N, 91.00270 W
Population (1990): 68 (34 housing units)
Area: 0.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 62346

Grand Prairie, TX (city, FIPS 30464) Location: 32.69224 N, 97.01665 W
Population (1990): 99616 (38721 housing units)
Area: 177.4 sq km (land), 25.1 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 75050, 75051, 75052

Eden Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 18116) Location: 44.84925 N, 93.45814 W
Population (1990): 39311 (15405 housing units)
Area: 83.9 sq km (land), 7.3 sq km (water)
Zip code(s): 55343, 55344, 55346, 55347

Kimball Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 33182) Location: 45.31332 N, 94.30080 W
Population (1990): 690 (269 housing units)
Area: 3.6 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Sun Prairie, MT (CDP, FIPS 72380) Location: 47.53692 N, 111.48055 W
Population (1990): 1424 (482 housing units)
Area: 15.4 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)

Stony Prairie, OH (CDP, FIPS 74832) Location: 41.35130 N, 83.15520 W
Population (1990): 1536 (555 housing units)
Area: 5.9 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Pine Prairie, LA (village, FIPS 60495) Location: 30.78290 N, 92.42289 W
Population (1990): 713 (305 housing units)
Area: 3.5 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

South Prairie, WA (town, FIPS 66045) Location: 47.13850 N, 122.09184 W
Population (1990): 180 (67 housing units)
Area: 0.7 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Fords Prairie, WA (CDP, FIPS 24565) Location: 46.74008 N, 123.00150 W
Population (1990): 2480 (1001 housing units)
Area: 13.0 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)

Long Prairie, MN (city, FIPS 38060) Location: 45.97960 N, 94.86301 W
Population (1990): 2786 (1259 housing units)
Area: 5.7 sq km (land), 0.2 sq km (water)

Dardenne Prairie, MO (town, FIPS 18253) Location: 38.75433 N, 90.73206 W
Population (1990): 1769 (593 housing units)
Area: 10.0 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Bailey's Prairie, TX (village, FIPS 5288) Location: 29.15344 N, 95.49427 W
Population (1990): 634 (213 housing units)
Area: 19.4 sq km (land), 0.5 sq km (water)

Grays Prairie, TX (village, FIPS 30752) Location: 32.47248 N, 96.35000 W
Population (1990): 286 (102 housing units)
Area: 3.3 sq km (land), 0.0 sq km (water)

Brice Prairie, WI (CDP, FIPS 9465) Location: 43.93870 N, 91.29970 W
Population (1990): 1031 (326 housing units)
Area: 7.7 sq km (land), 0.1 sq km (water)

Pleasant Prairie, WI (village, FIPS 63300) Location: 42.52405 N, 87.88182 W
Population (1990): 11961 (4347 housing units)
Area: 83.5 sq km (land), 0.3 sq km (water)

U.S. Gazetteer, U.S. Census Bureau

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prairie

Gun\, n. [OE. gonne, gunne; of uncertain origin; cf. Ir., Gael.) A LL. gunna, W. gum; possibly (like cannon) fr. L. canna reed, tube; or abbreviated fr. OF. mangonnel, E. mangonel, a machine for hurling stones.]

1. A weapon which throws or propels a missile to a distance; any firearm or instrument for throwing projectiles by the explosion of gunpowder, consisting of a tube or barrel closed at one end, in which the projectile is placed, with an explosive charge behind, which is ignited by various means. Muskets, rifles, carbines, and fowling pieces are smaller guns, for hand use, and are called small arms. Larger guns are called cannon, ordnance, fieldpieces, carronades, howitzers, etc. See these terms in the Vocabulary.

As swift as a pellet out of a gunne When fire is in the powder runne. --Chaucer.

The word gun was in use in England for an engine to cast a thing from a man long before there was any gunpowder found out. --Selden.

2. (Mil.) A piece of heavy ordnance; in a restricted sense, a cannon.

3. pl. (Naut.) Violent blasts of wind.

Note: Guns are classified, according to their construction or manner of loading as rifled or smoothbore, breech-loading or muzzle-loading, cast or built-up guns; or according to their use, as field, mountain, prairie, seacoast, and siege guns.

Armstrong gun, a wrought iron breech-loading cannon named after its English inventor, Sir William Armstrong.

Great gun, a piece of heavy ordnance; hence (Fig.), a person superior in any way.

Gun barrel, the barrel or tube of a gun.

Gun carriage, the carriage on which a gun is mounted or moved.

Gun cotton (Chem.), a general name for a series of explosive nitric ethers of cellulose, obtained by steeping cotton in nitric and sulphuric acids. Although there are formed substances containing nitric acid radicals, yet the results exactly resemble ordinary cotton in appearance. It burns without ash, with explosion if confined, but quietly and harmlessly if free and open, and in small quantity. Specifically, the lower nitrates of cellulose which are insoluble in ether and alcohol in distinction from the highest (pyroxylin) which is soluble. See Pyroxylin, and cf. Xyloidin. The gun cottons are used for blasting and somewhat in gunnery: for making celluloid when compounded with camphor; and the soluble variety (pyroxylin) for making collodion. See Celluloid, and Collodion. Gun cotton is frequenty but improperly called nitrocellulose. It is not a nitro compound, but an ethereal salt of nitric acid.

Gun deck. See under Deck.

Gun fire, the time at which the morning or the evening gun is fired.

Gun metal, a bronze, ordinarily composed of nine parts of copper and one of tin, used for cannon, etc. The name is also given to certain strong mixtures of cast iron.

Gun port (Naut.), an opening in a ship through which a cannon's muzzle is run out for firing.

Gun tackle (Naut.), the blocks and pulleys affixed to the side of a ship, by which a gun carriage is run to and from the gun port.

Gun tackle purchase (Naut.), a tackle composed of two single blocks and a fall. --Totten.

Krupp gun, a wrought steel breech-loading cannon, named after its German inventor, Herr Krupp.

Machine gun, a breech-loading gun or a group of such guns, mounted on a carriage or other holder, and having a reservoir containing cartridges which are loaded into the gun or guns and fired in rapid succession, sometimes in volleys, by machinery operated by turning a crank. Several hundred shots can be fired in a minute with accurate aim. The Gatling gun, Gardner gun, Hotchkiss gun, and Nordenfelt gun, named for their inventors, and the French mitrailleuse, are machine guns.

To blow great guns (Naut.), to blow a gale. See Gun, n., 3.

On-line Medical Dictionary - Cite This Source - Share This

prairie

prairie: in CancerWEB's On-line Medical Dictionary

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