Meaning & use
an amphibian
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Meanings
phrasecountable
One of a group of animals with moist skin that begin life in water and can also live on land, such as frogs, toads and salamanders.
Grammar: Use 'an amphibian' for one animal and 'amphibians' for the group; the article 'an' is needed before the vowel sound.
Patterns
- an amphibian such as a frog
- amphibians in a pond
- a species of amphibian
We saw an amphibian near the edge of the pond, half in the water and half on the mud.
An amphibian such as a frog spends its early life as a tadpole in water.
The teacher asked the class to name one amphibian and one reptile.
phrasecountablefigurative
A person or organization that works in two very different areas or moves between two ways of life.
Grammar: Figurative and rather literary; it still takes 'an' because of the vowel sound.
Patterns
- an amphibian between two worlds
- an amphibian of the office and the field
As a journalist who also farms, she is an amphibian between two worlds.
He calls himself an amphibian of the stage and the classroom, at home in both.
phrasecountabletechnical
A vehicle or craft designed to travel both on land and on water.
Grammar: This use is less common than the animal sense; 'amphibious vehicle' is the usual term.
Patterns
- an amphibian vehicle
- an amphibian craft
The tour uses an amphibian that drives through the streets and then straight into the river.
Engineers tested an amphibian craft that can cross both marsh and road.
Word forms
| plural | amphibians |
|---|
Common combinations
- amphibians and reptiles
- The museum has a hall for amphibians and reptiles.
- a species of amphibian
- This species of amphibian is found only in mountain streams.
- amphibian population
- Amphibian populations have fallen sharply in recent decades.
- amphibian habitat
- Draining the marsh destroyed the amphibian habitat.
- amphibians in decline
- Scientists reported that amphibians are in decline worldwide.
- the study of amphibians
- Her research focuses on the study of amphibians in tropical forests.
Word family
- amphibious adjective
- Describing animals, vehicles or operations that work both on land and in water.
- amphibian noun
- The same word used without the article when talking about the group in general.
- herpetology noun
- The scientific study of amphibians and reptiles.
Commonly confused: an amphibian or reptile? an amphibian or amphibious?
an amphibian vs reptile
Reptiles such as snakes and lizards have dry, scaly skin and do not need water to breed, while amphibians have moist skin and usually lay eggs in water.
an amphibian vs amphibious
This is the adjective, used before a noun: an amphibious vehicle. Use 'amphibian' as the noun for the animal.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'amphibian' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'An amphibian' is the noun, and 'an' is needed before the vowel sound. Option 1 uses the adjective 'amphibious' as a noun, option 2 leaves the verb without a subject form, and option 3 uses 'a' before a vowel sound.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “an amphibian”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.