coypu
1
9.3
- noun
- /ˈkɔɪpu/
- UK
- The coypu is sometimes seen swimming in rivers and lakes across southern South America.
Examples
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A coypu can be mistaken for a beaver, but its tail is round and less flat.
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Farmers are concerned because escaped coypus can harm local wetland habitats.
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The coypu is often found near rivers.
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I saw a coypu swimming in the lake.
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The wildlife documentary featured a coypu swimming gracefully in the river.
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On their trip to South America, they spotted a coypu near the water's edge.
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Farmers sometimes raise coypus for their valuable fur.
Synonyms
5
8.6
A large rodent that lives in water, with webbed feet and a long tail like a small beaver
A large animal like a big rat from South America that lives near water and is kept for its fur
Surface Forms
Etymology
Coypu comes from a native South American name coipo, which Spanish speakers adopted. It was used for the large rodent that lives by rivers and swims like a beaver, so the name points to its water-loving life.