rodent

Everyday

A rodent is a small mammal with sharp front teeth that keep growing, such as a mouse, rat, squirrel, hamster, guinea pig or beaver. tree →

In the lessons

Science (classifying animals): rodents are mammals; they gnaw to keep their teeth short. Pets: hamsters, gerbils, guinea pigs and mice are rodents. Health and safety: wild rats and mice can carry germs, so wash your hands and keep food covered. Phrases: small rodents, rodent teeth.

Examples

• A mouse is a rodent. tree →
• Beavers are the largest rodents in North America. tree →
• Rodents' teeth never stop growing. tree →
• Our class pet is a rodent called Nibbles. tree →
• The owl hunts rodents at night. tree →
• Is a rabbit a rodent? No, it belongs to a different group. tree →
• The cotia--a species of rodent--is also in love with her, and he tells the deer that he can make a riding-horse of the jaguar. tree →

Note

Countable: a rodent, rodents. Trap: rabbits and hares are NOT rodents (they are lagomorphs), and shrews and moles are not rodents either. Squirrels and porcupines are rodents.