beaver

1 of 3

noun (1)

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce beaver (audio)
plural beavers
1
or plural beaver
a
: 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
b
: the fur or pelt of the beaver
2
a
: a hat made of beaver fur or a fabric imitation
b
3
: a heavy fabric of felted wool or of cotton napped on both sides
4
vulgar : the genitals of a female especially when covered with pubic hair

beaver

2 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face
2
: a helmet visor

Illustration of beaver

Illustration of beaver
  • B beaver 1

beaver

3 of 3

verb

beavered; beavering; beavers

intransitive verb

: to work energetically
beavering away at the problem

Examples of beaver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Most eye-catching is its goal of reintroducing beavers—hunted to extinction in the UK four centuries ago—to London. Matthew Ponsford, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 Like a Super Mario Brothers video game, its action unfolds in vignettes, with Jean outwitting whimsically disproportionate beavers and responding to fatal interactions with unlimited resurrections. Erik Piepenburg, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2024 Finally, in January, the start of beaver breeding season, it was deemed time for another try. Martin Weil, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024 Share [Findings] Climate change was expected to drive American lobsters to seek deeper waters, beavers to colonize new parts of Canada, and wolf spiders in the high Arctic to produce a second annual brood. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 28 Feb. 2024 What to know about porcupines The North American porcupine is the second-largest rodent in North America, after the beaver, according to Zoo Idaho. Helena Wegner, Idaho Statesman, 22 Feb. 2024 Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time also to hunt beavers for their pelts. John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Jan. 2024 The back of the flag has a beaver, the official state animal. Olivia Munson, The Courier-Journal, 5 Jan. 2024 Next year they will be followed by beavers as part of a monumental project that will mark a significant milestone in Scottish wildlife conservation. Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Jan. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beaver.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beaver was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near beaver

Cite this Entry

“Beaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaver. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

beaver

1 of 2 noun
bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce beaver (audio)
plural beaver or beavers
1
: 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 2 noun
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

Geographical Definition

Beaver

geographical name

Bea·​ver ˈbē-vər How to pronounce Beaver (audio)
1
river 280 miles (451 kilometers) long in northwestern Oklahoma forming the upper course of the North Canadian River
2
river 305 miles (491 kilometers) long Canada in Alberta and Saskatchewan flowing east into the Churchill River

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