rodent

[ rohd-nt ]
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adjective
  1. belonging or pertaining to the gnawing or nibbling mammals of the order Rodentia, including the mice, squirrels, beavers, etc.

noun
  1. a rodent mammal.

Origin of rodent

1
1825–35; <New Latin RodentiaRodentia

Other words from rodent

  • ro·dent·like, adjective

Words Nearby rodent

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How to use rodent in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for rodent

rodent

/ (ˈrəʊdənt) /


noun
    • any of the relatively small placental mammals that constitute the order Rodentia, having constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing. The group includes porcupines, rats, mice, squirrels, marmots, etc

    • (as modifier): rodent characteristics

Origin of rodent

1
C19: from Latin rōdere to gnaw, corrode

Derived forms of rodent

  • rodent-like, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for rodent

rodent

[ rōdnt ]


  1. Any of various very numerous, mostly small mammals of the order Rodentia, having large front teeth used for gnawing. The teeth grow throughout the animal's life, and are kept from getting too long by gnawing. Rodents make up about half the living species of mammals, and include rats, mice, beavers, squirrels, lemmings, shrews, and hamsters.

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