rodent

[ rohd-nt ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the gnawing or nibbling mammals of the order Rodentia, including the mice, squirrels, beavers, etc.

noun

1. a rodent mammal.

rodent

/ ˈrəʊdənt /

noun

1. 1. any of the relatively small placental mammals that constitute the order Rodentia , having constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing. The group includes porcupines, rats, mice, squirrels, marmots, etc
   2. ( as modifier )

      rodent characteristics

rodent

/ rōd′nt /

1. Any of various very numerous, mostly small mammals of the order Rodentia, having large front teeth used for gnawing. The teeth grow throughout the animal's life, and are kept from getting too long by gnawing. Rodents make up about half the living species of mammals, and include rats, mice, beavers, squirrels, lemmings, shrews, and hamsters.

Derived Forms

• ˈrodent-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• rodent·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rodent¹

1825–35; < New Latin Rodentia Rodentia

Word History and Origins

Origin of rodent¹

C19: from Latin rōdere to gnaw, corrode

Example Sentences

Tye began using optogenetics in rodents to trace the neural circuits involved in emotion, motivation, and social behaviors.

From MIT Technology Review

When rodents and monkeys face early-life adversity, the HPA axis gets thrown off-kilter.

From Science News

It was the rodent equivalent of a human’s nice home and family.

From Science News For Students

Similarly, observations of rodents exposed to radiation suggest that space radiation impairs cognitive function, researchers reported in a review article in the May 2019 Life Sciences in Space Research.

From Science News

Hungry rodents now might be forced into the open in search of meals.

From Science News For Students

She paints the current rodent situation as more than a foul inconvenience, and one that is a particular blight on poorer areas.

From The Daily Beast

Or once in a while the rodent will spread infection by biting causing a disease called, chillingly enough, rat bite fever.

From The Daily Beast

Up to 10,000 campers at Yosemite National Park may have been exposed to a deadly rodent-borne illness.

From The Daily Beast

Aëtius differentiates phagedenic and rodent ulcers and cancer.

From Project Gutenberg

Being at some distance I supposed it to be one of the rodent animals, and I fired at it.

From Project Gutenberg

To my surprise he took a little stove from under his arm, lighted a fire, and in a few minutes had the rodent roasted to a crisp.

From Project Gutenberg

They were still as fast, still with the same anti-rodent disposition, but they were no longer small.

From Project Gutenberg

She had a shock of bright pink hair and a sharp, rodent-like face, with big sunglasses that were practically air-force goggles.

From Project Gutenberg