: a tailless semiaquatic South and Central American rodent (Hydrochaerus hydrochaeris) often exceeding four feet (1.2 meters) in length
Illustration of capybara
Examples of capybara in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebThe snaps included Wolfe trying out sumo wrestling, opening up his presents, feeding a capybara and hanging with his family.—Sabienna Bowman, Peoplemag, 11 Apr. 2024 Other historical exceptions have included capybara in Venezuela, muskrat in Michigan, and beaver in Quebec.—Shane Mitchell, Saveur, 28 Mar. 2024 At over 100 pounds, the capybara is the world’s largest rodent.—Allison Futterman, Discover Magazine, 17 Nov. 2023 The rest — a group that over the years has included lions, parrots, eagles, badgers, sloths, a capybara, a bearcat and an anteater — are usually just stopping through.—Claire Fahy, New York Times, 17 Mar. 2024 The capybara young are at the San Diego Zoo’s Elephant Odyssey, alongside the Baird’s tapir.—City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 July 2023 Ask about their algorithms Is your teen spending down time watching videos of capybaras or weather disasters?—Heather Kelly, Washington Post, 7 Feb. 2024 The zoo also used the viral post to ask their over 1 million followers for name ideas for the capybara.—Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 10 Jan. 2024 The cat-size dragonfly, the double-decker-bus-size rhino, the capybara that could dunk a basketball?—Zach Helfand, The New Yorker, 6 Nov. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'capybara.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Portuguese capibara, capivara, alteration of capiiuara, from Tupi kapiʔiwara, from kapíʔi grass, brush + -wara eater
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