Meaning & use
porcupine
A large rodent covered in sharp, protective spines called quills.
See it in a sentence
The porcupine raised its quills when the dog approached too closely.
Hikers are warned to keep dogs away from porcupines in the forest.
A note on using this word
Contrary to popular myth, porcupines cannot shoot their quills; the quills detach easily on contact instead.
Words with a similar meaning
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