rodent

noun ro·dent \ ˈrō-dᵊnt \

Updated on: 11 Apr 2018

Definition of rodent

1 : any of an order (Rodentia) of relatively small gnawing mammals (such as a mouse, squirrel, or beaver) that have in both jaws a single pair of incisors with a chisel-shaped edge

2 : a small mammal (such as a rabbit or a shrew) other than a true rodent

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rodent

adjective

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Recent Examples of rodent from the Web

And there are other reasons for rodent appreciation.

— martin weil, Washington Post, "National zoo notes World Rat Day, a time for rodent appreciation," 7 Apr. 2018
Another surprise: Remarkably few of the coyotes had eaten roof rats, a ubiquitous rodent that can weigh up to a pound.

— louis sahagun, latimes.com, "How do coyotes thrive in urban Southern California? The answer is not for the weak-stomached," 23 Mar. 2018
George Carlo, who led it, says research corroborates health concerns; the Food and Drug Administration asks the National Toxicology Program to design a rodent study.

— ryan knutson, WSJ, "Do Cellphones Really Cause Brain Cancer? We Have Answers.," 8 Mar. 2018
In chronicling Baltimore’s decades-long battle against its unwelcome rodent population, Anthony details some disturbing parallels with the ways city leaders have tried to deal with various urban situations.

— chris kaltenbach, baltimoresun.com, "'Rat Film' documentary about Baltimore's rodent fight to air on PBS tonight," 26 Feb. 2018
The Lassa virus is transmitted to humans via contact with food or household items contaminated with rodent urine or faeces, according to the WHO.

— tope alake, Bloomberg.com, "Lassa Fever Outbreak Kills 73 in Nigeria as New Cases Surge," 22 Feb. 2018
The most common carrier is a rodent of the Mastomys species, 4 to 7 inches long and with 24 mammary glands.

— donald g. mcneil jr., New York Times, "Lassa Fever Erupts in Nigeria," 16 Feb. 2018
The temperature will stay below freezing Friday, hitting a high of 26 about 4 p.m. Friday is Groundhog Day and meteorologists graciously stepped aside to let a furry rodent make its famed weather forecast.

— cheryl vari, Cincinnati.com, "Cincinnati weather: What caused the surprise, school-closing snow in NKY?," 1 Feb. 2018
The animals - which include doves, a hedgehog and a small rodent called a degu that is native to Chili - can be checked out by teachers throughout Clear Creek ISD for use in classroom studies.

— don maines, Houston Chronicle, "Friendly critters to line path at 5K fundraiser at Taylor Lake Village Park," 18 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rodent.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of rodent

borrowed from the base of New Latin Rodentia, order name, from neuter plural of Latin rōdent-, rōdens, present participle of rōdere "to gnaw, nibble, eat away," perhaps going back to Indo-European *Hr̥h₃d-, *Hreh₃d-, whence also Hittite ardu- "saw (off)," Sanskrit rádati "(s/he) bites, gnaws, cuts, opens"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1830

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