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Showing results for ornithorhynchus. Search instead for campylorhynchus.

ornithorhynchus

American  
[awr-nuh-thuh-ring-kuhs] / ˌɔr nə θəˈrɪŋ kəs /

noun

  1. the platypus.


ornithorhynchus British  
/ ˌɔːnɪθəʊˈrɪŋkəs /

noun

  1. the technical name for duck-billed platypus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of ornithorhynchus

1790–1800; < New Latin: genus name, equivalent to ornitho- ornitho- + -rhynchus < Greek rhýnchos bill

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:

The guest had little difficulty, in recognising the uncouth form of the ornithorhynchus, or water-mole; but he turned with yet more eagerness, towards the spot, whence that shot had proceeded.

From A Love Story by A Bushman

Unless, for instance, the person already knew certain characteristics of both birds and animals, he could not interpret the ornithorhynchus as a bird-beaked animal.

From Ontario Normal School Manuals: Science of Education by Ontario. Ministry of Education

But we must state that it is scientifically false to ask oneself if the dog be beautiful, and the ornithorhynchus ugly; if the lily be beautiful, and the artichoke ugly.

From Aesthetic as Science of Expression and General Linguistic by Croce, Benedetto

Even in Australia itself the ornithorhynchus and echidna have had to put up perforce with the lower places in the hierarchy of nature.

From Falling in Love With Other Essays on More Exact Branches of Science by Allen, Grant

No, no; you are the great man for acclimatization; you want to make the ornithorhynchus as common as the turkey.

From Sir Brook Fossbrooke, Volume I. by Lever, Charles James

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