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Glite Dictionary
egg-laying mammal

egg-laying mammal

1 7.6
A mammal that lays eggs, like the platypus or echidna
  • noun
  • /ˈɛɡˌleɪɪŋ ˈmæməl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : mamífero ovíparo
  • Echidnas, which are also egg-laying mammals, primarily inhabit Australia and New Guinea.

Examples

  • Did you know that the platypus is an egg-laying mammal?

  • The egg-laying mammal is a unique creature.

  • Echidnas are one type of egg-laying mammal found in the wild.

  • Scientists study the reproductive systems of egg-laying mammals to understand mammalian evolution.

  • The platypus is an unusual egg-laying mammal native to Australia.

  • The platypus is a fascinating example of an egg-laying mammal that thrives in aquatic environments.

  • Scientists study the rare features of an egg-laying mammal to better understand mammalian evolution.

Synonyms

monotreme
vsegg-laying mammal
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A mammal that lays eggs instead of giving birth, like a platypus or echidna

is the general descriptive term for those primitive mammals
prototherian
vsegg-laying mammal
  • Specialized
9.9

A mammal that lays eggs, like the platypus or echidna, from Australia, Tasmania, and New Guinea

is the general term without the geographic emphasis

Surface Forms

egg-laying mammal singular
egg-laying mammals plural

Morphology

egg-laying + mammal

The noun phrase is fully compositional: 'egg-laying' (one that lays eggs) modifies 'mammal', so the meaning 'a mammal that lays eggs' is directly derivable from the constituents. This modifier+noun pattern is a standard, cross-linguistic construction that a B1 learner who knows the parts would readily understand.

Etymology

Egg-laying mammal is a simple name that gives a clear picture: a mammal laying an egg, which is odd because most mammals have live babies. So, the phrase means 'a mammal that lays eggs', like the platypus or echidna.