American water shrew
- noun
- /əˈmɛrɪkən ˈwɔːtər ʃruː/
- US
:
musaraña acuática americana
- The American water shrew is a fascinating creature.
- North American water shrew
Examples
-
Biologists observed a American water shrew diving underwater in search of aquatic insects.
-
Because of its dense fur, the American water shrew is well adapted to cold water environments.
-
The American water shrew can be found in streams and wetlands across the northern United States and Canada.
-
Did you see an American water shrew near the river?
-
The American water shrew is often seen foraging along the banks of streams and wetlands.
-
In the wetlands, the American water shrew hunts for insects and small fish.
-
I spotted an American water shrew swimming gracefully across the surface of the pond.
Synonyms
A small shrew that lives in and near water in North America
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly and transparently built from the parts: 'American' (from the Americas) + 'water' (aquatic) + 'shrew' (small mammal), so a learner who knows each word can infer it denotes a shrew associated with water in America. Although it is a specific species name, the composition follows clear noun-modifier patterns common across languages, making the referent predictable to a B1 learner.
Etymology
American water shrew gives a simple picture: it is a small shrew that often swims in streams, the 'water' part, and lives in North America, the 'American' part. So the name means 'a shrew that lives in water in America'.
