hoary marmot
- noun
- /ˈhɔːri ˈmɑːrmət/
- US
:
marmota canosa
- Look at that hoary marmot!
Examples
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The alpine meadows are home to the hoary marmot, which is famous for its loud whistling calls.
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We spotted a hoary marmot sunning itself on the rocks during our hike.
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Unlike other marmots, the hoary marmot has a distinctive silvery-grey coat.
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The hoary marmot is often seen in the Rocky Mountains.
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During our hike, we spotted a hoary marmot sunning itself on a rock in the alpine meadow.
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The hoary marmot is known for its distinctive gray fur and can often be seen foraging in the mountains.
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In the summer, a hoary marmot will whistle to alert its family of potential predators approaching.
Synonyms
1
8.1
A large ground squirrel that lives in mountains and makes a sharp high alarm call
A large mountain marmot from northwestern North America that lives in cold high places
A large ground squirrel that lives in mountains and makes a loud high whistle
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase literally combines an adjective ('hoary' = gray/white-haired) with the noun ('marmot' = a rodent), so its meaning as a marmot with grizzled gray fur is directly derivable from the parts. This simple adjective+noun composition follows standard, cross-linguistic grammar and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituent words.
Etymology
Hoary marmot comes from the word hoary, which once meant 'white' or 'gray like frost'. So the name helps you picture a large mountain marmot with a silvery-gray, frosty-looking coat.