anteater

American  

[ant-ee-ter] / ˈæntˌi tər /

noun

1. any of several mammals of the family Myrmecophagidae, having a long, tapered snout, extensile tongue, and powerful front claws and feeding chiefly on ants and termites.

2. the aardvark.

3. a pangolin.

4. an echidna.

5. banded anteater.

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anteater British  

/ ˈæntˌiːtə /

noun

1. any toothless edentate mammal of the family Myrmecophagidae of Central and South America, esp Myrmecophaga tridactyla (or jubata ) ( giant anteater ), having a long tubular snout used for eating termites See also tamandua

2. another name for pangolin

3. another name for echidna

4. another name for numbat

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Etymology

Origin of anteater

First recorded in 1755–65; ant + eat ( def. )

Example Sentences

The bronze anteater outside the Bren Events Center is the UCI mascot.

From Los Angeles Times

Extant animals like giant armadillos and giant anteaters, related to Darwin’s ancient giant sloths, have experienced similar pressures.

From Salon

A tamandua, or collared anteater, with prizefighter arms and curved claws that break open termite mounds, tried to ignore a car full of onlookers.

From New York Times

Despite often being compared to pigs and South American anteater, aardvarks are not related to them.

From Science Daily

Threatened pangolins, known as armored anteaters, scramble along branches.

From Seattle Times