pouched mouse
- noun
- /paʊtʃt maʊs/
- Australian
:
ratón marsupial
- Unlike true mice, the pouched mouse carries its young in a pouch.
Examples
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The pouched mouse is known for its pointed snout and insect diet.
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Scientists discovered a new species of pouched mouse in the Australian outback.
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The pouched mouse is known for its sharp nose.
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Many pouched mice live in the forests of Australia.
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Scientists discovered a new species of pouched mouse in the Australian outback.
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The pouched mouse is known for its pointed snout and insect diet.
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Unlike true mice, the pouched mouse carries its young in a pouch.
Synonyms
A small Australian mammal with a pouch that looks like a mouse and eats insects
A small animal like a mouse that eats insects and carries its young in a pouch
A small Australian marsupial with a bushy tail that eats insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'pouched' describes an animal that has a pouch and 'mouse' names a small rodent-like animal, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a mouse-like animal with a pouch. This descriptive, modifier+noun pattern is common cross-linguistically for animal names, making the meaning predictable from the constituents.
Etymology
Pouched mouse comes from the two parts pouched meaning 'has a pouch' and mouse meaning 'a small, mouse-like animal'. They look like mice and 'carry their young in a pouch', so the name helps you remember they are small, mouse-like animals with a pouch.
