noun
bobcat
BOB-kat
Bobcat (noun) means a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail. Example: “A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week.”
noun
1
A medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail.
"A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week."
2
A small, versatile construction vehicle used for digging and loading (often a trademarked brand name).
"They brought in a bobcat to clear the rubble."
How to use bobcat
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a wild North American cat with a short tail, or a small digging machine used on building sites.
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Word forms
- Plural
- bobcats
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ was spotted near the hiking trail last week.
Etymology
Named for its short, "bobbed" tail plus cat.
Synonyms
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bay lynx
Frequently asked questions
What does “bobcat” mean?
The word “bobcat” means a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail. In plain terms, either a wild North American cat with a short tail, or a small digging machine used on building sites.
How do you pronounce “bobcat”?
“Bobcat” is pronounced BOB-kat (/ˈbɔb.kæt/ in IPA).
How do you use “bobcat” in a sentence?
Here is “bobcat” used in a sentence: “A bobcat was spotted near the hiking trail last week.”
What part of speech is “bobcat”?
“Bobcat” is a noun.
How many meanings does “bobcat” have?
“Bobcat” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a medium-sized North American wildcat with tufted ears and a short tail.
