Definition of 'beaver'

Word Frequency

beaver

(biːvəʳ )

Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular present tense beavers , present participle beavering , past tense, past participle beavered

1. countable noun

A beaver is a furry animal with a big flat tail and large teeth. Beavers use their teeth to cut wood and build dams in rivers.

2. uncountable noun

Beaver is the fur of a beaver.

...a coat with a huge beaver collar.

Phrasal verbs:

beaver away

Image of 'beaver'

Word Frequency

beaver in British 1

(ˈbiːvə )

noun

a large amphibious rodent, Castor fiber, of Europe, Asia, and North America: family Castoridae. It has soft brown fur, a broad flat hairless tail, and webbed hind feet, and constructs complex dams and houses (lodges) in rivers

the fur of this animal

3. mountain beaver

a tall hat of beaver fur or a fabric resembling it, worn, esp by men, during the 19th century

a woollen napped cloth resembling beaver fur, formerly much used for overcoats, etc

a greyish- or yellowish-brown colour

7. obsolete

a full beard

a bearded man

9. (modifier)

having the colour of beaver or made of beaver fur or some similar material

a beaver lamb coat

a beaver stole

verb

10. (intransitive; usually foll by away)

to work industriously or steadily

Word origin of 'beaver'

Old English beofor; compare Old Norse biōrr, Old High German bibar, Latin fiber, Sanskrit babhrú red-brown

Word Frequency

beaver in British 2

(ˈbiːvə )

noun

a movable piece on a medieval helmet used to protect the lower part of the face

Word origin of 'beaver'

C15: from Old French baviere, from baver to dribble

Word Frequency

Beaver in British

(ˈbiːvə )

noun

a member of a Beaver Colony, the youngest group of boys (aged 6–8 years) in the Scout Association

Word Frequency

beaver in American 1

(ˈbivər ; bēˈvər)

noun

a. Word forms: plural ˈbeavers or ˈbeaver

any of a family (Castoridae) of large rodents with soft, brown fur, chisel-like teeth, webbed hind feet, and a flat, broad tail: they often gnaw trees down and build canals and dams to form beaver ponds in which they build dry, dome-shaped, island lodges having underwater entrances

its fur

a man's high silk hat, originally made of this fur

a heavy cloth of felted wool, used for overcoats, etc.

4. US, Slang

the female genitals

often considered vulgar

adjective

5. US, Slang

designating or of a film, photograph, etc. in which the female genitals are exposed

often considered vulgar

verb intransitive

6. US