spermophile

American

[spur-muh-fahyl, -fil] / ˈspɜr məˌfaɪl, -fɪl /

noun

any of various burrowing rodents of the squirrel family, especially of the genus Spermophilus (orCitellus ), sometimes sufficiently numerous to do much damage to crops, as the ground squirrels and susliks.

spermophile British

/ ˈspɜːməʊˌfaɪl /

noun

any of various North American ground squirrels of the genera Citellus, Spermophilopsis, etc, regarded as pests in many regions

"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

Etymology

Origin of spermophile

1815–25; spermo- + -phile, modeled on New Latin spermophilus

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.

Every boy and girl loves the little fairy, airy striped chipmunk, half squirrel, half spermophile.

From The Story of My Boyhood and Youth by Muir, John

In the Middle West, especially in Indiana, the little spermophile, sometimes called the ground-squirrel, is common and not afraid to venture into the outskirts of a village.

From On the Trail An Outdoor Book for Girls by Beard, Lina

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023