walrus

American  

[wawl-ruhs, wol-] / ˈwɔl rəs, ˈwɒl- /

noun

walruses, plural walrus plural

1. a large marine mammal, Odobenus nosmarus, of Arctic seas, related to the seals, and having flippers, a pair of large tusks, and a tough, wrinkled skin.

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walrus British  

/ ˈwɔːlrəs, ˈwɒl- /

noun

1. a pinniped mammal, Odobenus rosmarus, of northern seas, having a tough thick skin, upper canine teeth enlarged as tusks, and coarse whiskers and feeding mainly on shellfish: family Odobenidae

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Usage

Plural word for walrus The plural form of walrus is walruses.  The plurals of several other singular words ending in -us are also formed in this way, such as virus/viruses, sinus/sinuses, and syllabus/syllabuses. In some words derived from Latin that end in -us, the irregular plural ending -i may be used instead, as in fungus/fungi and cactus/cacti. However, this ending is not valid for walrus. Walri would be an invalid plural form for walrus.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• walrus
  plural
• walruses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of walrus

First recorded in 1645–55; from Dutch: literally, “whale horse”; cognate with German Walross, Danish hvalros; compare Old English horshwæl “horse-whale”

Explanation

A walrus is a large mammal that lives in the sea and has big flippers and very long tusks. If you'd like to keep a walrus for a pet, you'll need a big pool full of salt water and plenty of clams, a walrus's favorite snack. Walruses are very distinctive, both for their tusks and whiskers and their size: some male walruses weigh over 2,000 pounds. They are extremely important in Arctic indigenous culture and are referenced frequently in Western culture as well. A couple of famous examples are Lewis Carroll's oyster-eating walrus in "The Walrus and the Carpenter." and the mysterious reference in the Beatles' "I Am the Walrus."

Example Sentences

Walrus survived in some areas of the Atlantic located further to the south, and as soon as climates warmed again, the ice edge retreated and walrus populations pushed quickly northwards again.

From Science Daily • Sep. 27, 2023

As Heroes of Liberty was born, Johnny the Walrus, by Matt Walsh, became a huge Amazon bestseller.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2023

It also includes a magnolia tree, which Jung mentioned in the essay, and a walrus, a nod to the titular subject of the Beatles' I Am The Walrus.

From BBC • Jul. 9, 2022

David Russell Wagoner — his whimsical poem “Anagrams” noted that the name is an anagram for No Avid Walrus Gelders — was born June 5, 1926, in Massillon, Ohio.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 29, 2021

Walrus tusks gleamed and drums, harpoons, and man’s knives decorated the walls.

From "Julie of the Wolves" by Jean Craighead George