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Glite Dictionary
🐻 Bear-like 🐻 A bear
ursid

ursid

8.2
A mammal of the bear family, for example a brown or polar bear
  • noun
  • /ˈɜr.sɪd/
  • Specialized
translation icon : oso
  • The conservation group focused on protecting ursids to ensure their habitats remain safe from development.
  • ursid meteor shower
  • ursid meteor

Examples

  • Turtle is the parent comet of the Ursid meteor shower.

    Academic text (2007)

  • (One might think the bear family, the ursids, should be added to this list, but only the polar bear is hypercarnivorous, and it is a rather atypical member of the family.

    Academic text (2008)

  • The scientist studied the behavior of various ursids, including the polar bear and the brown bear.

  • In the wild, many ursids can be found foraging for food during the warmer months.

Synonyms

bear
vsursid
957 1.0

A large heavy animal with thick fur and strong claws

is the technical family name used for these mammals

Surface Forms

ursid singular
ursids plural

Morphology

ursid = Ursidae + bear (opaque) = urs + id

The noun is formed from a Latin combining form plus the scientific suffix '-id' (member of a group), which is not a transparent, productive English derivation for most learners.

Etymology

Ursid comes from the Latin root ursus meaning 'bear'. It is the name for an animal in the bear family, like a brown bear or polar bear. Remember the name Ursula ('little bear') or Ursa Major to help you recall that an ursid is a true bear.