European water shrew
- noun
- UK
:
musaraña acuática europea
- Unlike other shrews, the European water shrew spends much of its time in or near freshwater.
Examples
-
The European water shrew is recognizable by the fringe of stiff hairs on its feet.
-
The European water shrew is an aquatic mammal.
-
Researchers found a European water shrew near the riverbank during their survey.
-
I spotted a European water shrew near the riverbank.
-
Researchers found a European water shrew near the riverbank during their survey.
-
The European water shrew is recognizable by the fringe of stiff hairs on its feet.
-
Unlike other shrews, the European water shrew spends much of its time in or near freshwater.
Synonyms
A small animal like a mouse that lives in streams and wetlands and eats insects
Surface Forms
Morphology
The phrase is directly compositional: 'European' (from Europe) + 'water' (habitat) + 'shrew' (small mammal) yields the concept of a shrew associated with watery habitats in Europe. A B1 learner who knows the constituent words would readily infer this general meaning even if they do not know the precise species name.
Etymology
The name European water shrew gives a simple picture. It is a shrew, a 'small, mouse-like animal', that lives and hunts in water and is found in Europe, so the name tells you where it lives and what it does.
