karoo

noun

ka·​roo kə-ˈrü How to pronounce karoo (audio)
variants or karroo
plural karoos or karroos
: a dry tableland of southern Africa

Word History

Etymology

Afrikaans karo, from Khoikhoi karo, karro hard, dry

First Known Use

1789, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of karoo was in 1789

Dictionary Entries Near karoo

Cite this Entry

“Karoo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/karoo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Geographical Definition

Karoo

geographical name

Ka·​roo kə-ˈrü How to pronounce Karoo (audio)
variants or Karroo
plateau region of the western part of the Republic of South Africa west of the Drakensberg Mountains

Note: The Karoo region is divided into the Little Karoo in the central Western Cape province , the Great Karoo in the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces , and the Northern Karoo in the Northern Cape, Free State, and North West provinces.

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