noun
anteater
ANT-ee-tuh
Anteater (noun) means a long-snouted mammal from Central and South America that uses its sticky tongue to slurp up ants and termites. Example: “The giant anteater can flick its tongue in and out of an ant nest dozens of times a second.”
noun
1
A long-snouted mammal from Central and South America that uses its sticky tongue to slurp up ants and termites.
"The giant anteater can flick its tongue in and out of an ant nest dozens of times a second."
"A anteater's claws are strong enough to tear open a hardened termite mound."
2
Loosely, any unrelated animal with a similar ant-eating habit, such as the pangolin, echidna, or aardvark.
"The aardvark is sometimes nicknamed the African anteater, though it is not closely related to true anteaters."
How to use anteater
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAn animal built for eating ants and termites, usually with a long snout and sticky tongue.
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Word forms
- Plural
- anteaters
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The giant _____ can flick its tongue in and out of an ant nest dozens of times a second.
Etymology
A straightforward compound of ant and eater — an animal that eats ants.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for anteater
See all rhymes for anteater →Frequently asked questions
What does “anteater” mean?
The word “anteater” means a long-snouted mammal from Central and South America that uses its sticky tongue to slurp up ants and termites. In plain terms, an animal built for eating ants and termites, usually with a long snout and sticky tongue.
How do you pronounce “anteater”?
“Anteater” is pronounced ANT-ee-tuh (/ˈæntˌitɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “anteater” in a sentence?
Here is “anteater” used in a sentence: “The giant anteater can flick its tongue in and out of an ant nest dozens of times a second.”
What part of speech is “anteater”?
“Anteater” is a noun.
How many meanings does “anteater” have?
“Anteater” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a long-snouted mammal from Central and South America that uses its sticky tongue to slurp up ants and termites.
