rodent

[ rohd-nt ]

/ ˈroʊd nt /

adjective

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

noun

a rodent mammal.

Nearby words

rodchenko, rodchenko, aleksandr, rodded, roddick, rode, rodent, rodent operative, rodent ulcer, rodentia, rodenticide, rodeo

Origin of rodent

1825–35; < New Latin Rodentia Rodentia

Related formsro·dent·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for rodents

Another week, he caught scores of the rodents that had been conducting raids on vegetables.
The Crazy Medieval Island of Sark|Liza Foreman|October 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Promising work has been completed in rodents but none yet has been reported in primates.
Emory Will Wage High-Tech War on Ebola|Kent Sepkowitz|August 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Snakes, lizards, rodents, fish, spiders, crickets—all inside an apartment no larger than a hotel suite.
The Weird Underground World of Urban Animal Husbandry|Dale Eisinger|May 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The initial study was based on observations of tumors in only 18 rodents and one rabbit.
How Big Pharma Holds Back in the War on Cancer|ProPublica|April 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST

This is a task where some rodents are at least as good as humans.
Are You Smarter Than a Mouse? Excerpt from Smarter: The New Science of Building Brain Power|Dan Hurley|January 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A study of the effect of rodents on plants used by deer was initiated in 1956 by Harold R. Shepherd.
Mammals of Mesa Verde National Park, Colorado|Sydney Anderson
These animals are, too, the only rodents which have well developed deciduous incisors.
The Vertebrate Skeleton|Sidney H. Reynolds
Hunters and dog ran in vain; these rodents escaped them easily.
The Mysterious Island|Jules Verne
In reference to the ectozoa of rodents it may be said that they are very numerous.
Parasites|T. Spencer Cobbold
The escape of the two mice was a signal for the assembling students to begin a chase after the rodents.
The Rover Boys in the Land of Luck|Edward Stratemeyer

British Dictionary definitions for rodents

rodent

/ (ˈrəʊdənt) /

noun

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
(as modifier)rodent characteristics

Derived Formsrodent-like, adjective

Word Origin for rodent

C19: from Latin rōdere to gnaw, corrode

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

Word Origin and History for rodents

rodent

1835 (as an adjective 1833), from Modern Latin Rodentia, the order name, from Latin rodentem (nominative rodens), present participle of rodere "to gnaw, eat away," from PIE root *red- "to scrape, scratch, gnaw" (cf. Sanskrit radati "scrapes, gnaws," radanah "tooth;" Latin radere "to scrape;" Welsh rhathu "scrape, polish"). Uncertain connection to Old English rætt (see rat (n.)).

Science definitions for rodents

rodent

[ rōd′nt ]

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.

rodent

adjective

noun

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Nearby words

Origin of rodent

Examples from the Web for rodents

British Dictionary definitions for rodents

rodent

noun

Word Origin for rodent

Word Origin and History for rodents

rodent

Science definitions for rodents

rodent