rabbit-eared bandicoot
- noun
- Australian
:
bandicut orejudo
- With its large ears and soft fur, the rabbit-eared bandicoot is often mistaken for a small rabbit.
Examples
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The rabbit-eared bandicoot is rarely seen during the day, as it is nocturnal.
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Farmers are working to protect the habitat of the endangered rabbit-eared bandicoot.
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The rabbit-eared bandicoot is nocturnal.
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I saw a rabbit-eared bandicoot at the wildlife park.
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The small rabbit-eared bandicoot has distinctive long ears that help it hear predators.
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While hiking in Australia, I spotted a rabbit-eared bandicoot hiding among the bushes.
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The rabbit-eared bandicoot is unique for its appearance, which resembles a tiny rabbit.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A small marsupial active at night with long ears like a rabbit and a pointed snout from Australia
A small Australian animal that carries its babies in a pouch with large leathery ears like a rabbit
A small Australian mammal with a pouch, long rabbit-like ears, and a pointed snout
Surface Forms
Morphology
rabbit-eared + bandicoot
The phrase is fully compositional: 'rabbit-eared' (having ears like a rabbit) modifies 'bandicoot' (a small marsupial), so the meaning 'a bandicoot with rabbit-like ears' is directly derivable from the parts. This kind of descriptive compound (animal + -eared) is cross-linguistically common and follows regular English formation, making it transparent to a B1 learner who knows the constituents.
Etymology
Rabbit-eared bandicoot is named for its long, rabbit-like ears: the parts rabbit and eared create a clear picture of a bandicoot with big, rabbit-style ears. So the name helps you imagine this small Australian marsupial that is often active at night and is easily remembered by its large ears.