alpaca

noun

al·​paca al-ˈpa-kə How to pronounce alpaca (audio)
1
: a domesticated mammal (Vicugna pacos synonym Lama pacos) especially of Peru that is probably descended from the vicuña
2
a
: wool of the alpaca
b(1)
: a thin cloth made of or containing this wool
(2)
: a rayon or cotton imitation of this cloth

Illustration of alpaca

Illustration of alpaca
  • alpaca 1

Examples of alpaca in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Say hello to the adorable alpacas and angora goats at Apple Hill Farm. Anne Olivia Bauso, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024 People of all ages love to see the alpacas’ goofy personalities and the products made from their fleece. Tammy Ljungblad, Kansas City Star, 23 Mar. 2024 Among the largest donations to Kennedy's bid is also the strangest: more than $100,000 worth of alpaca shawls, handed out to the roughly 250 people who attended Kennedy's birthday party earlier this winter. Will McDuffie, ABC News, 14 Mar. 2024 These types of viewing parties are cropping up everywhere, including at alpaca farms in Texas, Hot Springs National Park in Arkansas and the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Abha Bhattarai, Washington Post, 27 Mar. 2024 Its versatility lies in its composition of 85 percent Tencel (derived from eucalyptus) and 15 percent royal alpaca. Marisa Petrarca, Travel + Leisure, 20 Feb. 2024 The knits are some of the best pieces: an alpaca mesh cardigan and tunic in a shade of tomato red or dusty baby blue, an oversized cashmere crew in Copenhagen blue, and an asymmetric slouchy turtleneck in mint green. Laia Garcia-Furtado, Vogue, 20 Mar. 2024 She can frequently be seen in the background on her parents’ Instagram pages tending to the animals on the property, which include cattle, donkeys, dogs, chickens, ducks and alpacas. Audrey Schmidt, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024 Meg also mentioned that spitting is not usually seen in vertebrates outside humans, camels, llamas, and alpacas. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'alpaca.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish, from Aymara allpaqa

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of alpaca was in 1747

Dictionary Entries Near alpaca

Cite this Entry

“Alpaca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/alpaca. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

alpaca

noun
al·​paca al-ˈpak-ə How to pronounce alpaca (audio)
1
: a mammal with fine long woolly hair domesticated in Peru and related to the llama
2
: wool of the alpaca or a cloth made of it
also : a rayon or cotton imitation of this cloth
Etymology

Spanish

More from Merriam-Webster on alpaca

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