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Glite Dictionary
Belgian hare

Belgian hare

8.2
A reddish domestic rabbit that people breed to look like a wild hare
  • noun
  • /ˈbɛldʒən hɛr/
translation icon : liebre belga
  • The Belgian hare is prized for its elegant appearance and lively nature.

Examples

  • The Belgian hare is known for its striking red fur.

  • Breeders exhibited several Belgian hares at the national rabbit show this year.

  • She keeps both Dutch rabbits and a Belgian hare in her garden enclosure.

  • Many people admire the Belgian hare for its beauty.

  • Breeders exhibited several Belgian hares at the national rabbit show this year.

  • The Belgian hare is prized for its elegant appearance and lively nature.

  • Many people admire the Belgian hare for its striking red fur.

Surface Forms

Belgian hare singular
Belgian hares plural

Morphology

Belgian + hare

The noun combines the nationality adjective 'Belgian' with the animal 'hare', so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily infer it refers to a hare (an animal) associated with Belgium or a Belgian breed. Although taxonomically it denotes a domestic rabbit bred to resemble a hare, the compositional meaning is straightforward and thus immediately understandable from the constituents.

Etymology

Belgian hare comes from breeders in Belgium who wanted a pet rabbit that looked like a wild hare. They bred a slim, red rabbit to copy the hare's look, so the name Belgian shows where it came from and hare shows its hare-like appearance.