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Glite Dictionary
spearnose bat

spearnose bat

9.9
A bat with a pointed nose found in the Americas from the southern United States to Paraguay
  • noun
  • US
translation icon : murciélago nariz de lanza
  • The spearnose bat is known for its distinctive nose shape and echolocation abilities.

Examples

  • Researchers discovered a small colony of spearnose bats roosting in a cave in Texas.

  • Unlike other bat species, the spearnose bat prefers lowland forests near rivers.

  • Look at that spearnose bat!

  • The spearnose bat is known for its unique nose structure.

  • Researchers discovered a small colony of spearnose bats roosting in a cave in Texas.

  • The spearnose bat is known for its distinctive nose shape and echolocation abilities.

  • Unlike other bat species, the spearnose bat prefers lowland forests near rivers.

Synonyms

leafnose bat
vsspearnose bat
  • Specialized
8.9

A bat with a leaf-shaped flap at the end of its nose

is narrower describing New World bats with a pointed nose leaf
leaf-nosed bat
vsspearnose bat
7.9

A bat with a leaflike flap of skin on its nose that helps it find food at night

is narrower describing New World bats with a pointed nose leaf

Surface Forms

spearnose bat singular
spearnose bats plural

Morphology

spearnose + bat

The compound transparently denotes a type of bat characterized by a spear-shaped (pointed) nose: the meaning can be composed from 'spear' + 'nose' + 'bat' even though 'spearnose' is not listed separately. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words and basic compounding patterns would readily infer it refers to a bat with a pointed/spear-like nose structure.

Etymology

The name spearnose bat comes from the bat's nose, which sticks forward like a spear. So the name is used for this small bat with a pointed nose that lives in parts of the Americas.