rhizoverbBeta
DictionaryllanoGrassy plain
noun

llano

LAH-noh/lˈɑnoʊ/

A treeless grassy plain, especially in Spanish America.

Cattle graze across the open llano under a wide sky.

A broad treeless South American grassy plain extends to a low horizon, a few distant cattle establish scale, no mountains, jungle, buildings or labels.
Etymology
llanoLatinsmooth, flat, level

Latin planus describes a flat or level surface. That descriptive idea became a noun for open, level country, especially the treeless plains of South America north of the Amazon.

More examples

  • Seasonal rains turn the dry llano green.
  • The llanos of Venezuela stretch far beyond the horizon.
  • We found no shade as we crossed the llano.

Forms

llano · llanos

Similar words

prairie
Usually refers to the broad grasslands of North America.
plain
Any large, flat land area, not necessarily grassy or treeless.