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water rat

noun

any of various rodents having aquatic habits.
the muskrat, Ondatra zibethica.
(in Australia and New Guinea) any of the aquatic rats of the subfamily Hydromyinae, especially of the genus Hydromys.
Slang. a vagrant or thief who frequents a waterfront.

QUIZZES

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In our third teacher-created PSAT practice test there are new and unique vocabulary terms you may have never heard of! Can you guess what they mean?
Question 1 of 10
seclusion
a false belief or opinion.
the matter that settles to the bottom of a liquid.
the state of being isolated, kept apart, or withdrawn into solitude.
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Origin of water rat

First recorded in 1545–55

Words nearby water rat

water pox, waterproof, waterproofing, water purslane, water rail, water rat, water rate, water-repellent, water-resistant, water rice, water right
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for water rat

British Dictionary definitions for water rat

water rat

noun

any of several small amphibious rodents, esp the water vole or the muskrat
any of various amphibious rats of the subfamily Hydromyinae, of New Guinea, the Philippines, and Australia
informal a person who is very fond of water sports
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