ground squirrel

noun

: any of various burrowing North American and Eurasian rodents (especially genus Spermophilus) of the squirrel family that often live in colonies especially in open areas (such as grasslands)

called also spermophile

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Groundhogs, also known as woodchucks, are one of the largest members of the ground squirrel family. —Amy Schwabe, Journal Sentinel, 2 Feb. 2022

Borrowing ground squirrel burrows to beat the heat, meerkats emerge to get food in the morning and late afternoon. —National Geographic, 27 July 2021

The plant owes its miraculous resurrection to a team of scientists led by David Gilichinsky, and an enterprising ground squirrel. —Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2012

The Arctic ground squirrel cools down to 27 degrees Fahrenheit. —Gregory Mone, Discover Magazine, 19 June 2013

Drew holding an Arctic ground squirrel in her laboratory. —Brendan I. Koerner, WIRED, 24 Nov. 2022

Either way, search the skies for circling red-tailed hawks, who conserve energy and gain altitude through rising columns of air (thermals) before diving acrobatically to swoop on unsuspecting SoCal prey, like the California ground squirrel. —Matt Pawlik, Los Angeles Times, 31 Aug. 2022

The lead conservationist is a large, fluffy ground squirrel known as a marmot. —San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Feb. 2022

Since squirrels haven’t been shown to recognize their own reflections, this trial let researchers observe how a ground squirrel would treat another member of its species. —Maddie Bender, Scientific American, 17 Sep. 2021

See More

Word History

First Known Use

1688, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ground squirrel

noun

: any of numerous burrowing rodents (as gophers and chipmunks) that differ from true squirrels in having cheek pouches and shorter fur