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Firefox

Firefox

7.9
A small animal with reddish-brown fur that lives in trees in the Himalayas
  • noun
translation icon : panda rojo
  • With its striking reddish-brown fur, the firefox is a fascinating animal to observe.

Examples

  • In the dense forests of the Himalayas, the firefox can be spotted foraging for food.

  • (Alt+t "firefox" is only slower than going through the menu when you do not know how to use the keyboard, and the launcher does not provide auto-complete).

    Blog text (15)
  • The firefox climbed nimbly through the trees in its native habitat.

Synonyms

panda
vsFirefox
8 1.0

A small reddish-brown animal like a raccoon that lives in trees

is the clearer and more specific name for this small Himalayan mammal
red panda
vsFirefox
  • Indian
1 3.7

A small animal with red-brown fur that lives in trees and eats bamboo

is another common name used for that same animal
Ailurus fulgens
vsFirefox
  • Specialized
9.2

A small reddish-brown mammal that lives in the eastern Himalayas and southwestern China

is the everyday English name rather than the technical Latin name
lesser panda
vsFirefox
  • Indian
6.2

A small reddish-brown animal like a raccoon that lives in trees in Asia

is the more widely used modern common name rather than that older variant
cat bear
vsFirefox
  • UK
8.4

A small reddish-brown animal like a raccoon that lives in the eastern Himalayas and eats bamboo

is the standard common name rather than a playful nickname

Surface Forms

Firefox singular
Firefoxes plural

Morphology

Firefox = fire + fox (semi-transparent) = fire + fox

The compound 'fire' + 'fox' evokes reddish colour + fox-like animal, but the referent is a specific species (red panda) not a true fox, so learners may only partially infer the exact referent.

Etymology

Firefox comes from fire for its red fur and fox for its fox-like face and bushy tail, so people called the red panda a 'fire fox'. That's why Firefox refers to the small red panda that lives in trees.