Relating to or characteristic of the Himalaya mountain range in Asia. Often used to describe the region's geography, culture, or distinctive features.
From Sanskrit 'hima' (snow) and 'alaya' (dwelling/abode), literally meaning 'abode of snow.' The term entered English through geographic and colonial descriptions of the mountain range in the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Himalayas contain 14 peaks over 8,000 meters, including Mount Everest, and the range is so massive it actually affects global weather patterns by blocking cold winds from Central Asia. Interestingly, the term 'Himalayan' has become synonymous with anything enormously challenging or monumental in scale.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.