rabbit

Everyday

1. A rabbit is a small furry animal with long ears, strong back legs and a short fluffy tail that hops. tree →
2. To rabbit on (UK) is to talk for a long time about unimportant things. tree →

In the lessons

In maths: things counted: rabbits on a farm or in a pet shop, their legs, ears or carrots they eat; legs problems; old puzzles about rabbits having babies. In science: rabbits are mammals; they live in burrows and eat plants; baby rabbits are kits. In everyday life: pet rabbits need space and hay. In stories: Peter Rabbit, the White Rabbit in «Alice in Wonderland», the tortoise and the hare.

Examples

• There are 8 rabbits in the cage. tree →
• Each rabbit eats 2 carrots a day. tree →
• Farmer Joe has rabbits and chickens, 30 legs in all. tree →
• 3 rabbits ran away. tree →
• Rabbits live in holes called burrows. tree →
• A pet rabbit needs lots of hay. tree →
• The magician pulled a rabbit out of a hat. tree →
• Peter Rabbit squeezed under the gate. tree →
• Stop rabbiting on and do your homework! tree →
• "Does it hurt?" asked the Rabbit. tree →

Note

Animals counted; a rabbit has 4 legs and 2 ears, which some problems use without saying. Trap: in legs problems, rabbits have 4 legs but chickens have 2. Myth: rabbits should not mostly eat carrots; they need mainly hay and greens. A hare is a bigger, faster relative. Baby rabbits are called kits or kittens; «bunny» is a child's word.