rodent

Meanings

1. 1nouncountablebiology

   A small mammal with large front teeth that never stop growing, such as a mouse, rat or squirrel.

   Grammar: Often plural, rodents: rodents gnaw.

   Patterns

   • a rodent infestation

   Rats and mice are rodents.

   A rodent had chewed through the cable.

   The beaver is the largest rodent in North America.

2. 2nouncountable

   A pest such as a mouse or rat found in homes and stores.

   Grammar: Used in pest control: rodent problems.

   Patterns

   • rodent control

   The restaurant was closed after inspectors found rodents.

   We set traps to catch rodents in the attic.

   Cats help keep rodents away from the barn.

Word forms

Common combinations

rodent control

The city pays for rodent control.

small rodent

A small rodent ran across the floor.

rodent infestation

A rodent infestation closed the shop.

rodent droppings

Inspectors found rodent droppings in the cellar.

pet rodent

A hamster is a popular pet rodent.

Synonyms and how they differ

vermin

Vermin is a wider and more negative word for harmful animals, while rodent is neutral and scientific.

gnawer

Gnawer is rare and describes only the habit, while rodent names the animal group.

pest

Pest can mean any harmful creature, not only rodents.

Word family

rodentia noun

the scientific order of rodents

rodenticide noun

a poison that kills rodents

rodent-like adjective

looking like a rodent

Commonly confused: rodent or rodeo? rodent or marsupial?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “rodent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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