Arctic ground squirrel
- noun
- /ˈɑrk.tɪk ɡraʊnd ˈskwɜr.əl/
- US
:
ardilla terrestre ártica
- Look at that Arctic ground squirrel!
Examples
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The Arctic ground squirrel is well adapted to cold climates and extreme environments.
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We saw a group of Arctic ground squirrels gathering seeds near the tundra.
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The Arctic ground squirrel hibernates for up to eight months during the harsh northern winter.
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The Arctic ground squirrel is well adapted to cold climates.
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The Arctic ground squirrel is known for its ability to survive in extremely cold temperatures.
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During the summer, the Arctic ground squirrel spends much of its time foraging for food.
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Researchers have observed that the Arctic ground squirrel hibernates for several months each year.
Synonyms
A large ground squirrel that lives in Alaska and northern Canada
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'Arctic' (northern region) + 'ground' (terrestrial, not arboreal) + 'squirrel' (rodent), yielding a squirrel that lives on the ground in the Arctic. This follows standard noun-modifier composition and is cross-linguistically transparent, so a B1 learner who knows the three words will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Arctic ground squirrel gets its name from the animal's life: it is a squirrel that lives on the ground in the Arctic. These animals live in 'burrows' and often 'sleep' for many months in winter, so the name shows where they live and how they survive the cold.
