tenrec

American

[ten-rek] / ˈtɛn rɛk /

noun

any of several insectivorous mammals of the family Tenrecidae, of Madagascar, having a long, pointed snout, certain species of which are spiny and tailless.

tenrec British

/ ˈtɛnrɛk /

noun

any small mammal, such as Tenrec ecaudatus ( tailless tenrec ), of the Madagascan family Tenrecidae, resembling hedgehogs or shrews: order Insectivora (insectivores)

"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 tenrec

1720–30; < French < Malagasy tàndraka

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.

If the tenrec also enters REM sleep during hibernation, then this style of hibernation might be explained by a tropical environment, rather than a behavior unique to hibernating primates.

From Scientific American • Jun. 18, 2012

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