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Glite Dictionary
golden hamster

golden hamster

1.8
A small light brown pet animal that people keep in a cage
  • noun
  • /ˈɡoʊldən ˈhæmstər/
translation icon : hámster dorado
  • The golden hamster is popular in many households because of its friendly temperament.

Examples

  • I bought a golden hamster for my daughter.

  • Some science classes use the golden hamster to teach students about animal behavior.

  • My daughter loves taking care of her golden hamster and cleaning its cage every week.

  • My golden hamster loves to run on its wheel.

  • She decided to adopt a golden hamster as her new pet after reading about how friendly they are.

  • The golden hamster is a popular choice for first-time pet owners due to its gentle nature.

  • At the pet store, I saw a cute golden hamster running on its wheel in the display cage.

Synonyms

Mesocricetus auratus
vsgolden hamster
  • Specialized
8.0

A small golden hamster often kept as a pet

is the common everyday name rather than a scientific label
Syrian hamster
vsgolden hamster
2.7

A small, golden or light-colored pet hamster often kept alone

emphasizes the species' light color instead of its origin

Surface Forms

golden hamster singular
golden hamsters plural

Morphology

golden + hamster

The phrase is a straightforward adjective + noun combination: 'golden' describes the color and 'hamster' names the animal, so the meaning 'a light-colored/type of hamster' is directly derivable from its parts. This follows a common cross-linguistic compositional pattern (color + animal) and would be immediately understood by a B1 learner who knows both words.

Etymology

Golden hamster is named for the animal's soft, light golden fur and because it is a kind of hamster first found in Syria. So, the name simply means 'a small, light-coloured hamster often kept as a pet'.