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Glite Dictionary
Easter bunny

Easter bunny

1 1.4
An imaginary rabbit that brings eggs and gifts to children at Easter
  • noun
  • /ˈiːstər ˈbʌni/
  • Baby Talk
translation icon : conejo de Pascua
  • Every year, the neighborhood hosts an event where kids can take photos with the Easter bunny.

But the Easter Bunny is the worst holiday mascot because what does the Easter Bunny do?

Examples

  • But the Easter Bunny is the worst holiday mascot because what does the Easter Bunny do?

    Ear Biscuits

  • Last April she was the Easter bunny.

    Night and the City (1992)

  • You still believe in the Easter bunny?

    Fiction book (1997)

  • If you do, you probably still believe in the Easter bunny.

    Blog text (9)

  • When I was a youngster, I knew Santa and the Easter bunny.

    Blog text (25)

  • There's always the Easter bunny!

    Blog text (2)

  • I am always so impressed with your command of the English language, Cam. I gather that you also believe in Santa Claus, the tooth fairy, and the Easter bunny.

    Blog text (13)

  • Children eagerly await the arrival of the Easter bunny each spring.

  • The story of the Easter bunny bringing gifts has become a beloved tradition for many families.

Synonyms

bunny
vsEaster bunny
  • Informal
242 1.0

A small rabbit, often a young one

is an imaginary character that gives eggs and gifts during a spring holiday
rabbit
vsEaster bunny
220 1.0

A small furry animal with long ears that lives in holes and hops

is an imaginary character that gives eggs and gifts during a spring holiday
bunny rabbit
vsEaster bunny
  • Informal
5 1.0

A small, soft rabbit often thought of as young and cute

is an imaginary character that gives eggs and gifts during a spring holiday

Surface Forms

Easter bunny singular
Easter bunnies plural

Morphology

Easter + bunny

The compound 'Easter bunny' is compositionally transparent in that a learner who knows 'Easter' (the holiday) and 'bunny' (a rabbit) can infer it denotes a rabbit associated with Easter. However, the specific cultural/conventional sense — an imaginary figure who brings eggs and gifts to children — is world-knowledge dependent and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so it is not fully transparent.

Etymology

Easter bunny comes from old spring stories in Europe; one popular story says a white hare would hide brightly coloured eggs in gardens and children would leave little nests or treats for it. So the picture of a rabbit hiding or bringing eggs became the idea of an imaginary 'bunny' who gives eggs and small gifts to children at Easter.