otter

[ ot-er ]

noun,plural ot·ters, (especially collectively) ot·ter.

any of several aquatic, furbearing, weasellike mammals of the genus Lutra and related genera, having webbed feet and a long, slightly flattened tail.
the fur of an otter.

Origin of otter

before 900; Middle English otter, oter,Old English otor, ottor; cognate with Dutch, German otter; compare Greek hýdra water serpent (see hydra), Sanskrit udra- otter; akin to water

Words Nearby otter

Other definitions for Otter (2 of 2)

Otter

[ ot-er ]

noun

(in the Volsunga Saga) a son of Hreidmar, who assumed the form of an otter when fishing, and who was killed by Loki while in that form.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use otter in a sentence

otter promises that it passes four times as many military drop tests as required.
Best iPhone cases for protection and style | PopSci Commerce Team | February 26, 2021 | Popular-Science
The $10 tour lets guests ask animal experts questions about cute sea creatures, which include otters and coral-dwelling fish, and peek into areas of the aquarium that aren’t open to the public.
U.S. zoos and aquariums virtually open their facilities for behind-the-scenes visits with animals | Erin Blakemore | January 2, 2021 | Washington Post
Knowing more about what makes otters tick might help scientists prep them for a changing world in the best way possible.
These otters learn how to snag snacks by watching their friends | Sara Kiley Watson | November 24, 2020 | Popular-Science
You start imagining otters heading up banks and schools and public-health commissions.
Would an otter make a good boss? | Sarah Todd | September 22, 2020 | Quartz
One explanation for this shift may be a female preference for novel songs, a focus for future study, otter says.
A sparrow song remix took over North America with astonishing speed | Jack J. Lee | July 2, 2020 | Science News

He called Governor otter a “salesman for the government,” a product no decent Idahoan would ever buy.
The Candidate Named "Pro-Life" | Michael Ames | October 31, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
He had shot an otter on one of his journeys along the stream, but said he had seen hardly a trace of beavers.
Gold-Seeking on the Dalton Trail | Arthur R. Thompson
Of marine mammals the most characteristic are the sea-lion, fur-seal, sea-otter and harbour-seal.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Part 3 | Various
At that moment White otter discovered something far away to the northward.
Three Sioux Scouts | Elmer Russell Gregor
White otter shot his arrow at the foremost rider, and the Pawnee fell to the plain.
Three Sioux Scouts | Elmer Russell Gregor
They had gone a considerable distance when White otter suddenly stopped and dismounted.
Three Sioux Scouts | Elmer Russell Gregor

British Dictionary definitions for otter

otter

/ (ˈɒtə) /

nounplural -ters or -ter

any freshwater carnivorous musteline mammal of the subfamily Lutrinae, esp Lutra lutra (Eurasian otter), typically having smooth fur, a streamlined body, and webbed feet
the fur of any of these animals

Also called: otter board a type of fishing tackle consisting of a weighted board to which hooked and baited lines are attached

verb

to fish using an otter

Origin of otter

Old English otor; related to Old Norse otr, Old High German ottar, Greek hudra, Sanskrit udra

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

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