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civet
[ siv-it ]
/ ˈsɪv ɪt /
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noun
a yellowish, unctuous substance with a strong musklike odor, obtained from a pouch in the genital region of civets and used in perfumery.
any catlike, carnivorous mammal of the subfamily Viverrinae, chiefly of southern Asia and Africa, having a coarse-haired, spotted coat, rounded ears, and a narrow muzzle.
any of various related or similar animals, as the palm civet.
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Origin of civet
OTHER WORDS FROM civet
civ·et·like, adjectiveWords nearby civet
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use civet in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for civet
civet
/ (ˈsɪvɪt) /
noun
any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands
the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes
the fur of such an animal
short for palm civet
Word Origin for civet
C16: from Old French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Arabic zabād civet perfume
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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