quadruped
Americanadjective
noun
noun
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of quadruped
1640–50; < Latin quadruped- (stem of quadrupēs ), equivalent to quadru- quadru- + -ped- -ped
Compare meaning
How does quadruped compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Explanation
A squirrel, a zebra, a deer, a wolf, and a grizzly bear meet in a field. Yes, a disaster in the making, but also a bunch of quadrupeds — animals that walk on four feet. Cut quadruped in half and it makes sense: quadru means four, like when a woman births four babies they are called quadruplets. And –ped is for the feet: think of centipedes and millipedes, insects that have so many feet it’s disturbing. A human is a biped because they walk on two feet. If you meet a human with four feet, you could call him a quadruped. You could also call the circus and let them know their quadruped is loose.
Vocabulary lists containing quadruped
40 SAT words Beginning with "Q"
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Body Language: Ped, Pod ("Foot")
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"Ode to the Table" by Pablo Neruda
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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.
Nomura expects Ubtech Robotics, Unitree and other Chinese robotic companies to produce a total of 110,000 to 200,000 humanoid and quadruped robots next year.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025
They know they have found some kind of sauropod — a long-necked, long-tailed quadruped.
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2024
"It is very curious thus having a quadruped peculiar to so small a tract of country."
From Salon • Jun. 19, 2024
To test this hypothesis, they used DRL to train a quadruped robot to cross various terrains.
From Science Daily • Apr. 30, 2024
On being offered a lift he mounted gladly, thankful to curtail his disagreeable tramp, and reassured by the sight of a single and confidential-looking quadruped.
From Ladies in the Field: Sketches of Sport by Greville, Beatrice Violet Graham
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
