51Թ

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View synonyms for

squirrel

[skwur-uhl, skwuhr-, skwir-uhl]

noun

plural

squirrels 
,

plural

squirrel .
  1. any of numerous arboreal, bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.

  2. any of various other members of the family Sciuridae, as the chipmunks, flying squirrels, and woodchucks.

  3. the meat of such an animal.

  4. the pelt or fur of such an animal.

    a coat trimmed with squirrel.



verb (used with object)

squirreled, squirreling , squirrelled, squirrelling .
  1. to store or hide (money, valuables, etc.), usually for the future (often followed byaway ).

    I've squirreled away a few dollars for an emergency.

squirrel

/ ˈskwʌr-, ˈskwɜːrəl, ˈskwɪrəl /

noun

  1. any arboreal sciurine rodent of the genus Sciurus , such as S. vulgaris ( red squirrel ) or S. carolinensis ( grey squirrel ), having a bushy tail and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc

  2. any other rodent of the family Sciuridae , such as a ground squirrel or a marmot

  3. the fur of such an animal

  4. informala person who hoards things

“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

verb

  1. informalto store for future use; hoard

“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
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Other 51Թ Forms

  • squirrelish adjective
  • squirrellike adjective
  • ˈܾ-ˌ adjective
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of squirrel1

1325–75; Middle English squirel < Anglo-French escuirel ( Old French escuireul ) ≪ Vulgar Latin *ūܲ, *ūDZܲ, representing Latin sciurus (< Greek ídzܰDz literally, shadow-tailed ( ski ( á ) shadow + -ouros, adj. derivative of dzܰá tail); apparently so called because the tail was large enough to provide shade for the rest of the animal) with diminutive suffixes -ellus, -olus
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51Թ History and Origins

Origin of squirrel1

C14: from Old French esquireul , from Late Latin ūܲ , from Greek skiouros , from skia shadow + oura tail
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

As Roz explores this strange new world, she encounters angry bears, a loquacious squirrel and industrious beavers, who regard her as a malevolent force.

From

In one study, raccoons and squirrels would sacrifice food to avoid tick-infested areas, suggesting that they valued the threat of parasites more than the promise of food.

From

“Just like the guidance in many parks and as it says on the signage in the park, we ask visitors to not feed the squirrels.”

From

The vase is a rare underglaze decorated with two squirrels hiding in a fruiting grapevine.

From

For every observation of a California poppy or a ground squirrel, there are three western fence lizards.

From

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squirmysquirrel away