beaver

1 of 3

noun (1)

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce beaver (audio)
plural beavers
1
or plural beaver
a
: either of two large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family (Castoridae including Castor canadensis of North America and C. fiber of Eurasia), having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges
b
: the fur or pelt of the beaver
2
a
: a hat made of beaver fur or a fabric imitation
b
3
: a heavy fabric of felted wool or of cotton napped on both sides
4
vulgar : the genitals of a female especially when covered with pubic hair

beaver

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face
2
: a helmet visor

Illustration of beaver

Illustration of beaver
  • B beaver 1

beaver

3 of 3

verb

beavered; beavering; beavers

intransitive verb

: to work energetically
beavering away at the problem

Examples of beaver in a Sentence

Verb he's been beavering away at the various courses for his dinner party all day long, hoping to impress his new friends
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Around that same time, English merchants began offering Caribbean rum to the Shawnee and other Native groups as part of the trade in deerskins and beaver pelts. Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 30 Aug. 2025 Upon their return—primarily after the reintroduction of wolves—beavers built dams and ponds, slowing water flow and restoring river ecosystems. Madison Dapcevich, Outside, 29 Aug. 2025 The American River Parkway is home to wildlife, such as otters, beavers, turtles, many bird species, opossum and more. Ishani Desai, Sacbee.com, 27 Aug. 2025 Busy beaver hunters don’t expect to have a definitive answer anytime soon. Ben Brubaker, Quanta Magazine, 22 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for beaver

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bever, from Old English beofor; akin to Old High German bibar beaver, and probably to Old English brūn brown — more at brown

Noun (2)

Middle English baviere, from Middle French

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beaver was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Beaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaver. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

beaver

1 of 2 noun
bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce beaver (audio)
plural beaver or beavers
1
: a large plant-eating rodent that has webbed hind feet and a broad flat tail and that builds dams and houses of mud and branches which are partly underwater
2
: the fur of a beaver

beaver

2 of 2 noun
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

Geographical Definition

Beaver

geographical name

Bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce Beaver (audio)
1
river 280 miles (451 kilometers) long in northwestern Oklahoma forming the upper course of the North Canadian River
2
river 305 miles (491 kilometers) long Canada in Alberta and Saskatchewan flowing east into the Churchill River

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