spermophile

English

Etymology

From spermo- + -phile, hence, "seed-lover".

Noun

spermophile (plural spermophiles)

  1. A terrestrial burrowing rodent; ground squirrel.
    • 1920, Thornton W. Burgess, “Striped Chipmunk and his Cousins”, in The Burgess Animal Book for Children:
      Your cousin, Seek Seek the Spermophile, sometimes called Gopher Squirrel, who lives on the open plains of the West where there are no rocks or stones. He likes best the flat, open country. He is called Spermophile because that means seed-eater, and he lives largely on seeds, especially on grain.

Synonyms


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /spɛʁ.mɔ.fil/
  • (file)

Noun

spermophile m (plural spermophiles)

  1. spermophile

Derived terms

Further reading

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