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Glite Dictionary
ribbed toad

ribbed toad

9.9
A frog from western North America with a tail like body part used in mating
  • noun
  • /ˈrɪbd toʊd/
  • US
translation icon : sapo acanalado
  • The ribbed toad is easily recognized by its unusual taillike organ during mating season.

Examples

  • Biologists studied several ribbed toads in their natural habitat in western North America.

  • Unlike most frogs, the ribbed toad has a prominent structure used for reproduction.

  • Look at that ribbed toad!

  • The ribbed toad is often seen near ponds.

  • The ribbed toad is easily recognized by its unusual taillike organ during mating season.

  • Biologists studied several ribbed toads in their natural habitat in western North America.

  • Unlike most frogs, the ribbed toad has a prominent structure used for reproduction.

Synonyms

Ascaphus trui
vsribbed toad
  • Specialized
9.9

A frog from western North America with a tail-like organ used in mating

is the common use name rather than the formal scientific name
tailed frog
vsribbed toad
  • US
9.8

A small frog from western North America with a tail-like organ in males used to mate

is a general common label used in everyday contexts rather than technical usage
tailed toad
vsribbed toad
  • US
9.9

A frog from western North America that keeps a tail-like part used in mating

is the broader descriptive name, not the alternative common label form
bell toad
vsribbed toad
  • Specialized
9.7

A frog in western North America that uses a tail-like organ to mate

is the descriptive term focusing on the tail-like reproductive organ rather than the local name

Surface Forms

ribbed toad singular
ribbed toads plural

Morphology

ribbed + toad

This is a straightforward adjective+noun composition: 'ribbed' (having raised lines or ridges) + 'toad' (an amphibian) yields the clear meaning 'a toad with ridges.' A B1 learner who knows both words can reliably infer this basic descriptive meaning, even if specialized biological details of the species are not deducible from the phrase.

Etymology

Ribbed toad is named for how it looks: ribbed means it has raised, rib-like lines on its skin and toad is the animal. Unlike most frogs, it also has a taillike organ used for mating, so the name points to this unusual 'frog'.