noun
- A large carnivorous mammal of Africa and Asia, with powerful jaws and a sloping back, known for scavenging and making loud laughing sounds.
Usage: Also spelled 'hyena' (more common in U.S. English); Often used in the phrase 'laughing hyena' to describe the spotted hyena's distinctive vocalization
Examples
- The hyaena prowled across the savanna at dusk, searching for food.
- A pack of hyaenas gathered around the carcass left by the lions.
- The spotted hyaena is known for its powerful bite force.
- We heard the eerie laughing call of a hyaena in the distance.
- Hyaenas play an important role in African ecosystems as scavengers.