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Glite Dictionary
Madagascar cat

Madagascar cat

8.0
A small lemur from Madagascar with a long tail that has black and white rings
  • noun
translation icon : lémur de Madagascar
  • The Madagascar cat is famous for its strikingly banded tail and expressive face.

Examples

  • Several Madagascar cats were observed leaping between the forest trees at sunrise.

  • In the wild, a Madagascar cat spends much of its time sunbathing and grooming.

  • The Madagascar cat is a fascinating creature.

  • Have you ever seen a Madagascar cat?

  • In the wild, a Madagascar cat spends much of its time sunbathing and grooming.

  • Several Madagascar cats were observed leaping between the forest trees at sunrise.

  • The Madagascar cat is famous for its strikingly banded tail and expressive face.

Synonyms

ring-tailed lemur
vsMadagascar cat
1 5.0

A small animal from Madagascar with a long tail that has black and white rings

is an alternative, less standard name for the same animal
Lemur catta
vsMadagascar cat
  • Specialized
8.0

A type of lemur from Madagascar with a long bushy tail with black and white rings

is the common descriptive name rather than the strict scientific term

Surface Forms

Madagascar cat singular
Madagascar cats plural

Morphology

Madagascar + cat

Knowing 'Madagascar' and 'cat' lets a B1 learner infer an animal associated with Madagascar (so location/animacy is transparent), but the actual referent is a lemur rather than a feline. The specific sense (a ring‑tailed lemur) cannot be predicted from the constituents, so the expression is only partially transparent.

Etymology

Madagascar cat may come from early visitors who saw a lemur resting in the sun and grooming and thought its face and quick moves looked like a small cat. So today Madagascar cat means a small lemur from Madagascar with a long tail with black and white rings.