chaparral
noun
chap·ar·ral
ˌsha-pə-ˈral 
-ˈrel
1
: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks
broadly
: a dense impenetrable thicket of shrubs or dwarf trees
2
: an ecological community composed of shrubby plants adapted to dry summers and moist winters that occurs especially in southern California
Synonyms
Examples of chaparral in a Sentence
the rabbit darted into the chaparral
Recent Examples on the Web
In Los Angeles, some experts say there may be cases where clearing patches of chaparral around neighborhoods of houses is warranted.
—
Lauren Sommer, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
After burning, the chaparral is slow to recover, whereas invasive grasses are quick to move in.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Satellite images of the Eaton Fire showed that the mountain chaparral had burned with characteristic intensity.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
The crew spread out, and sawyers began to cut the chaparral with their saws.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chaparral 
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Lauren Sommer, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025
After burning, the chaparral is slow to recover, whereas invasive grasses are quick to move in.
—Anton Sorokin, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Feb. 2025
Satellite images of the Eaton Fire showed that the mountain chaparral had burned with characteristic intensity.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
The crew spread out, and sawyers began to cut the chaparral with their saws.
—M. R. O’Connor, The New Yorker, 27 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for chaparral
Dictionary Entries Near chaparral
Cite this Entry
“Chaparral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chaparral. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
chaparral
noun
chap·ar·ral
ˌshap-ə-ˈral
-ˈrel
1
: a thicket of dwarf evergreen oaks
also
: a dense thicket
2
: an ecological community that is found especially in parts of southern California and is composed of shrubby plants that grow well in dry sunny summers and moist winters
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