water rat
- noun
- /ˈwɔːtər ræt/
:
rata de agua
- Unlike many rodents, the water rat is well adapted to an aquatic environment.
Examples
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Scientists are studying the habitats of the water rat to better understand wetland ecosystems.
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The water rat is often seen swimming along the riverbank at dusk.
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The water rat swam gracefully across the pond.
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Have you ever seen a water rat in the wild?
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The water rat scurried along the riverbank, searching for food.
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In the wetland, we spotted a water rat swimming gracefully in the shallow water.
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He was fascinated by the water rat as it built its nest near the pond.
Synonyms
A small animal like a rat that lives near rivers and ponds
A group of water rats that live in or near water in Australia and New Guinea
A group of rats that live in wet places in Australia and New Guinea
Surface Forms
Morphology
The components 'water' (the aquatic environment) and 'rat' (an animal associated with a habitat) create a recognisable metaphorical image of someone closely associated with water, so the meaning has a partial compositional basis. However, 'rat' is not a common or predictable marker for a person in many languages and learners may instead interpret the phrase literally as an animal or be uncertain, so the sense is not fully derivable without exposure.
Etymology
Water rat comes from the simple picture of a rat living in water. That's why it means 'a rodent that lives in or near water'.
