duckbilled platypus
- noun
- /ˈdʌkˌbɪld ˈplætɪpəs/
- Australian
:
ornitorrinco
- The duckbilled platypus is a unique animal known for its duck-like bill and ability to lay eggs.
Examples
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Biologists study the duckbilled platypus to learn more about its unusual adaptations for survival in freshwater habitats.
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In Australia, many people are fascinated by the duckbilled platypus, which combines features of mammals and birds.
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To them, a duckbilled platypus is a more familiar and frequently encountered creature than the species "meta-analysis."
Academic text (2001)
Synonyms
15
5.8
A small Australian mammal that lays eggs and has a duck-like bill, webbed feet, and a flat tail
1
7.3
A small egg-laying mammal with a broad bill and webbed feet
1
7.2
A mammal from Australia that lays eggs and has a duck-like bill and webbed feet
A small furry water animal in Australia and Tasmania with a broad duck-like bill and webbed feet
Surface Forms
Morphology
duckbilled + platypus
The phrase is directly compositional: 'duckbilled' indicates having a bill like a duck and 'platypus' names the egg-laying mammal, so together they describe a platypus with a duck-like bill. This follows normal English compounding and is easily inferred by a B1 learner who knows the constituent words.
Etymology
Duckbilled platypus gets its name from the animal's strange look: the part duckbilled comes from its broad, flat bill like a duck, and the part platypus comes from old Greek words meaning 'flat foot'. So the name points to its flat bill and webbed feet.