gray lemming
- noun
- /ɡreɪ ˈlɛmɪŋ/
- US
:
lemming gris
- The gray lemming is well adapted to survive harsh Arctic winters.
Examples
-
Unlike other rodents, the gray lemming remains active throughout the year.
-
Researchers tracked the movements of several gray lemmings across the tundra.
-
The gray lemming is known for its distinctive fur.
-
Many gray lemmings inhabit the tundra regions.
-
Researchers tracked the movements of several gray lemmings across the tundra.
-
The gray lemming is well adapted to survive harsh Arctic winters.
-
Many gray lemmings inhabit the tundra regions.
Synonyms
16
6.8
A small animal like a mouse with a short tail that sometimes moves long distances in large groups
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'gray' simply describes the color of the animal 'lemming', so the meaning (a lemming that is gray) is directly derivable from the constituents. The compositional pattern is cross-linguistically common and non-idiomatic, so a B1 learner who knows both words would understand it.
Etymology
Gray lemming names a small animal: gray describes its fur and lemming is a little 'rodent' that lives in cold northern areas. That's why gray lemming means 'a small rodent with gray fur' found in the north.