: 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
Verb
he's been beavering away at the various courses for his dinner party all day long, hoping to impress his new friends
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Noun
The Beaver Moon takes its name from early Native American tribes as well as American colonists, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac, when beavers begin sheltering in their lodges after gathering enough food to last the winter.—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Oct. 2025 Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts.—John Tufts, IndyStar, 23 Oct. 2025 The beaver moon will be just 221,817 miles from Earth, the closest full moon of the year.—Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 20 Oct. 2025 The Beaver Moon gets its name because this is the time when beavers start to take shelter in their lodges ahead of winter, according to the Farmer's Almanac.—Julia Gomez, USA Today, 7 Oct. 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
: 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 2noun
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face
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