cactus mouse
- noun
- /ˈkæktəs maʊs/
- US
:
ratón cactus
- The cactus mouse is adapted to survive with very little water in harsh desert climates.
Examples
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The fur color of the cactus mouse helps it blend in with the sandy surroundings.
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The cactus mouse scurried across the desert floor.
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Researchers caught several cactus mice during their nocturnal study of the Arizona desert.
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I spotted a cactus mouse near the cacti.
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Researchers caught several cactus mice during their nocturnal study of the Arizona desert.
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The cactus mouse is adapted to survive with very little water in harsh desert climates.
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The fur color of the cactus mouse helps it blend in with the sandy surroundings.
Synonyms
1
8.6
A small animal like a mouse that lives in holes in the desert
A small desert mouse that lives in burrows in the southwestern United States
A small rodent active at night that lives in burrows and carries seeds in cheek pouches
Surface Forms
Morphology
This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where the first noun ('cactus') modifies the second ('mouse') to indicate a type or habitat association — a mouse that lives among or near cacti. The meaning is directly derivable from the constituent words and follows a common, cross-linguistic compounding pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words would readily understand it.
Etymology
Cactus mouse is named for the clear picture of a little mouse living among cactus plants in the dry desert. Because it lives near cacti and can survive with very little water, the name helps you remember it is a 'small desert rodent'.