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otter

otter

47 1.0
A small animal with fur and webbed feet that lives in rivers and eats fish
  • noun
  • /ˈɑːtər/
: nutria
  • Our orphaned baby otters would have starved If we hadn't found them near their den.
  • sea otter
  • river otter
  • otters and seals

We saw eagles, a bear, sea lion, sea Otter, and multiple glaciers.

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Examples

  • At the aquarium, the otter entertained visitors by juggling rocks with its paws.

  • The California sea otter exhibit will be the first of its kind on the East Coast.

    Academic text (1993)
  • And these are our river otters.

  • A major attraction of the new pavilion is a live river otter habitat, complete with underwater viewing.

    Academic text (1995)
  • Nearer to the scene, Rick noticed that there were otters swimming and catching fish in the lake.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • We saw a playful otter swimming in the lake during our hike.

  • The nature documentary featured a family of otters living along the riverbank.

Synonyms

sea otter
vsotter
  • US
9 2.3

A large brown sea animal that lives near Pacific coasts and uses rocks to open shellfish

is mainly marine while the general term covers both marine and freshwater
river otter
vsotter
  • US
1 2.5

A small furry animal that lives by rivers and swims and plays

is broader, also found along coasts as well as freshwater
Enhydra lutris
vsotter
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A large sea mammal with very thick dark brown fur that lives along the northern Pacific coast

is the common name used in everyday speech for that marine species
Lutra canadensis
vsotter
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A North American otter that lives in rivers and lakes and is often found in groups

is the everyday name for similar semi-aquatic mammals
Eurasian otter
vsotter
  • UK
1 5.1

A medium-sized otter that lives in rivers and coasts of Europe and Asia with thick waterproof fur

is the general name covering coastal and inland habitats

Compounds

9 2.3

A large brown sea animal that lives near Pacific coasts and uses rocks to open shellfish

1 2.5

A small furry animal that lives by rivers and swims and plays

1 5.1

A medium-sized otter that lives in rivers and coasts of Europe and Asia with thick waterproof fur

8.1

A large British dog breed with long hanging ears and thick rough fur used for hunting otters

otter shrew
  • South African
9.9

A small African animal that swims and eats insects

Surface Forms

otter singular
otters plural

Etymology

Otter comes from old Germanic words for a water animal, so a helpful way to remember it is to think of 'water' because otters live and swim in rivers and on coasts.