Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
beaver rat

beaver rat

9.9
A small animal from Australia and New Guinea that lives in water and looks like a beaver
  • noun
  • Australian
translation icon : rata castor
  • A beaver rat can often be seen swimming in rivers and lakes in New Guinea.

Examples

  • Unlike true beavers, the beaver rat has a more slender tail.

  • The scientist studied the habits of the beaver rat in its natural wetland habitat.

  • The beaver rat is native to Australia.

  • Many beaver rats live in wetland areas.

  • A beaver rat can often be seen swimming in rivers and lakes in New Guinea.

  • The scientist studied the habits of the beaver rat in its natural wetland habitat.

  • Many beaver rats live in wetland areas, where they find plenty of food.

Surface Forms

beaver rat singular
beaver rats plural

Morphology

beaver + rat

The compound 'beaver rat' is directly interpretable as a rat-like or rodent species related to or resembling a beaver, which follows straightforward noun + noun compounding. Noun compounds of this kind are compositional and cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows 'beaver' and 'rat' can infer the intended meaning.

Etymology

Beaver rat may come from early scientists who saw a water rodent that moved and swam like a small beaver but had the size and face of a rat. So, the clear image of a beaver-like swimmer mixed with rat features explains why the name means 'an aquatic rodent resembling a beaver' today.