squirrel
Americannoun
-
squirrels,
plural
-
squirrel
plural
-
any of numerous arboreal, bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Sciurus, of the family Sciuridae.
-
any of various other members of the family Sciuridae, as the chipmunks, flying squirrels, and woodchucks.
-
the meat of such an animal.
-
the pelt or fur of such an animal.
a coat trimmed with squirrel.
verb (used with object)
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squirrels,
present (3rd person singular)
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squirreled,
past participle, past
-
squirrelled,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
squirreling,
present participle
-
squirrelling
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
any arboreal sciurine rodent of the genus Sciurus , such as S. vulgaris ( red squirrel ) or S. carolinensis ( grey squirrel ), having a bushy tail and feeding on nuts, seeds, etc
-
any other rodent of the family Sciuridae , such as a ground squirrel or a marmot
-
the fur of such an animal
-
informal a person who hoards things
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
squirrelsimple
-
squirrelssimple
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have squirreledperfect
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have squirrelledperfect
-
has squirreledperfect
-
has squirrelledperfect
-
am squirrelingprogressive
-
am squirrellingprogressive
-
are squirrelingprogressive
-
are squirrellingprogressive
-
is squirrelingprogressive
-
is squirrellingprogressive
-
have been squirrelingperfect progressive
-
have been squirrellingperfect progressive
-
has been squirrelingperfect progressive
-
has been squirrellingperfect progressive
Past
-
squirreledsimple
-
squirrelledsimple
-
had squirreledperfect
-
had squirrelledperfect
-
was squirrelingprogressive
-
was squirrellingprogressive
-
were squirrelingprogressive
-
were squirrellingprogressive
-
had been squirrelingperfect progressive
-
had been squirrellingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of squirrel
1325–75; Middle English squirel < Anglo-French escuirel ( Old French escuireul ) ≪ Vulgar Latin *scūrellus, *scūriolus, representing Latin sciurus (< Greek skíouros literally, shadow-tailed ( ski ( á ) shadow + -ouros, adj. derivative of ourá tail); apparently so called because the tail was large enough to provide shade for the rest of the animal) with diminutive suffixes -ellus, -olus
Explanation
Squirrels are rodents that live in trees and have big, bushy tails. You've probably seen many squirrels in the park eating acorns and seeds. A well-known characteristic of squirrels is gathering nuts and seeds to store for the winter: you can say they squirrel away that food. You can squirrel things away, too, like squirreling away money in your savings account to use later. If you find a great sale on snow boots in the middle of summer, you might take advantage of the bargain and squirrel those boots away for your trip to northern Canada in January.
Vocabulary lists containing squirrel
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
And at East Bay Hardware, Emma chased a squirrel into the store that took two days to remove.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 12, 2026
During the top of the seventh inning, the squirrel found his way between the mound and home plate.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
She might even serve Dinty Moore canned beef stew, something an uber-fan like Rachel knows the production team of the original series used instead of traditional frontier meals like squirrel stew.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026
But instead of splashing the extra cash, or saving up for holidays or a house deposit, he's decided to squirrel more of it away into his workplace pension.
From BBC ● Jun. 30, 2026
He became convinced he could fly to his wife through the air, or glide, like a flying squirrel.
From "Abel's Island" by William Steig
The network said it wanted to support plans which helped local communities celebrate red squirrels and reconnect with nature, such as themed walks or improving spaces linked to conservation.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
All are adorned with jewels and tails made of real horse hair, many of which have been eaten by squirrels or other critters.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Of course he was, along with the two stuffed squirrels Haaland had also picked up at a Western-themed store in Dallas.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026
"Secondly, greys have squirrel pox - it doesn't affect them but they transmit it to red squirrels and it's fatal for them. It's a horrible disease and causes them ulcers and blindness."
From BBC ● Sep. 20, 2026
Which raises the questions: Was Nutsawoo eagerly looking forward to having a nestful of baby squirrels to raise?
From "The Long-Lost Home" by Maryrose Wood
The funds we squirreled away back then help buffer us from inflation in retirement now.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026
Fadhli pointed to some boxes of basic medical supplies squirreled away in a corner.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 13, 2026
"I haven't been on wages for the past two weeks. I'm now dipping into savings, money that I've squirreled away for retirement, with no insight into exactly when this will be over."
From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2025
In fact, I still have a box or two of these cereals squirreled away at my house, even though I'm well into adulthood, working as an assistant professor of nutrition and dietetics.
From Salon ● Jul. 23, 2024
Jessie always had money squirreled away in her lock box.
From "The Lemonade War" by Jacqueline Davies
"I just feel like right now, we need that money squirrelled away in a safe spot," he said.
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2025
During the late 2000s, when Pliny the Younger became the most sought-after ale in North America, Brouwer’s had kegs of the triple IPA squirrelled away.
From Seattle Times ● May 28, 2024
Given the lax-to-nonexistent policing in Ottawa, it’s impossible to know what else could be squirrelled away in the convoy’s warren of vehicles, tents, and bases.
From Slate ● Feb. 17, 2022
Some of the bones of Prometheus are squirrelled away in Salzer’s office in Tucson.
From The New Yorker ● Jan. 13, 2020
In the next episode it's the Magic Circle Museum, squirrelled away at the society of magicians' HQ in Euston, north London, and the bewilderingly dense Grant Museum, the last remaining zoological museum in London.
From The Guardian ● Jun. 12, 2013
But, mindful of fluctuating costs, they have also been taking steps to reduce their fuel consumption, while "squirreling away that extra little bit of cash".
From BBC ● Jul. 18, 2026
You have to choose — there’s no squirreling out of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026
Officials have been squirreling away reserves in anticipation of the contract, though they’re unlikely to cover the full cost.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 29, 2024
“I just worry about the undisclosed kind of squirreling money away,” Rossman said.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 10, 2023
On the back of an envelope left beside the museum phone, she has sketched an enormous tree, laden with flowers, the branches squirreling over the flap.
From "In the Time of the Butterflies" by Julia Alvarez
He still rereads his manuscripts from the beginning each day—an increasing burden, as each book goes on—stripping away what’s superfluous and squirrelling new ideas into the gaps.
From The New Yorker ● Dec. 9, 2019
In early 2016 some analysts fretted that consumers were squirrelling away the money they were saving on cheap petrol, and so denying the economy a needed fillip.
From Economist ● Dec. 14, 2017
Frances Smith said: "We have support from people on all sides – it's not just bookshops, it's also other independent retailers who are struggling, while these multinational companies are squirrelling away money."
From The Guardian ● Jul. 2, 2013
If they had fled after squirrelling away millions, why was there no sign of largesse?
From The Guardian ● Jun. 22, 2013
And Switzerland's banking privacy is under threat from a long-running dispute with the US, which takes a dim view of its wealthier citizens squirrelling away funds in Swiss banks to avoid tax.
From The Guardian ● Apr. 9, 2011
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