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Glite Dictionary
sand cat

sand cat

8.6
A small wild cat that lives in hot, dry deserts and has thick fur on its paws
  • noun
  • /sænd kæt/
translation icon : gato de arena
  • The sand cat uses its thick fur to insulate itself from the extreme temperatures of its desert home.

Examples

  • While exploring the Sahara, we spotted a sand cat hiding among the dunes.

  • Well, you know that old sand cat out there?

    Pitch Black (2000)

  • The sand cat is known for its ability to thrive in the harsh deserts of Africa and Asia.

Surface Forms

sand cat singular
sand cats plural

Morphology

sand + cat

The compound 'sand cat' is directly built from 'sand' + 'cat', so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a kind of cat associated with sandy or desert environments. This straightforward noun-compound composition is common in English and cross-linguistically, making the meaning immediately comprehensible to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Sand cat is named for where it lives: a small cat that lives in sand and dry deserts and has thick fur on its paws to walk on hot sand. So the name shows it is a wild cat able to live and hunt in sandy, hot places.