Neanderthal

C2 Topic:Science & Research

US /niˈændərˌtɑːl/ UK /niːˈændəˌtɑːl/ See IPA manual

Freq #19202

Meanings

1

noun
a member of an extinct human species, Homo neanderthalensis, that lived in Europe and western Asia until about 40,000 years ago

Genetic evidence shows that some Neanderthals interbred with early modern humans.
2

adj
relating to Neanderthals, their anatomy, culture, or period

The cave contained Neanderthal tools and animal bones.
3

noun
informal and disparaging: a person regarded as crude, unintelligent, or resistant to change

Calling a colleague a Neanderthal is insulting and says nothing about the extinct human species.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a member of an extinct... NeandertalHomo neanderthalensis

2 adj · relating to neanderthals,... Neandertal

3 noun · informal and disparaging: a... brute boor

Word family

Derived forms NeanderthalianNeanderthal-like

Related forms homininPaleolithicHomo sapiensDenisovanNeander Valley

Etymology

From German Neanderthal, the older spelling of Neandertal ("Neander Valley") near Dusseldorf, where a famous fossil was found in 1856. The valley honored hymn writer Joachim Neander; German Tal means "valley." The species name Homo neanderthalensis followed from the site.

Topics

Science & Research

External links

# Neanderthal

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /niˈændərˌtɑːl/
**IPA (UK):** /niːˈændəˌtɑːl/
**Frequency rank:** 19202

## Meanings
1. a member of an extinct human species, Homo neanderthalensis, that lived in Europe and western Asia until about 40,000 years ago
2. relating to Neanderthals, their anatomy, culture, or period
3. informal and disparaging: a person regarded as crude, unintelligent, or resistant to change

## Examples
- Genetic evidence shows that some Neanderthals interbred with early modern humans.
- The cave contained Neanderthal tools and animal bones.
- Calling a colleague a Neanderthal is insulting and says nothing about the extinct human species.

## Synonyms
- Neandertal
- Homo neanderthalensis
- brute
- boor

## Derived Forms
- Neanderthalian
- Neanderthal-like

## Related Forms
- hominin
- Paleolithic
- Homo sapiens
- Denisovan
- Neander Valley

## Etymology
From German Neanderthal, the older spelling of Neandertal ("Neander Valley") near Dusseldorf, where a famous fossil was found in 1856. The valley honored hymn writer Joachim Neander; German Tal means "valley." The species name Homo neanderthalensis followed from the site.

## Topics
- Science & Research

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