noun
ermine
UR-mihn
Ermine (noun) means a small weasel found in cold northern regions, whose brown fur turns white in winter except for a black-tipped tail. Example: “The ermine's white winter coat makes it almost invisible in the snow.”
noun
1
A small weasel found in cold northern regions, whose brown fur turns white in winter except for a black-tipped tail.
"The ermine's white winter coat makes it almost invisible in the snow."
2
The white winter fur of this animal, traditionally used to trim ceremonial robes and long associated with royalty and judges.
"The judge's robe was trimmed with ermine."
How to use ermine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small white-furred weasel, or the luxurious fur itself, traditionally linked to royal and judicial robes.
Common pairings
trimmed with ermine
ermine robe
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Word forms
- Plural
- ermines
- Third person singular
- ermines
- Past tense
- ermined
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____'s white winter coat makes it almost invisible in the snow.
Etymology
From Old French ermine, possibly from a Germanic word for the weasel or linked to the word for "Armenian," since traders once associated the fur with Armenia.
Synonyms
View more →
stoat
short-tailed weasel
Related words
Rhymes for ermine
See all rhymes for ermine →Frequently asked questions
What does “ermine” mean?
The word “ermine” means a small weasel found in cold northern regions, whose brown fur turns white in winter except for a black-tipped tail. In plain terms, a small white-furred weasel, or the luxurious fur itself, traditionally linked to royal and judicial robes.
How do you pronounce “ermine”?
“Ermine” is pronounced UR-mihn (/ˈɝmɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “ermine” in a sentence?
Here is “ermine” used in a sentence: “The ermine's white winter coat makes it almost invisible in the snow.”
What is another word for “ermine”?
Words with a similar meaning to “ermine” include stoat and short-tailed weasel.
What part of speech is “ermine”?
“Ermine” is a noun.
Where does the word “ermine” come from?
The word “ermine” comes from Old French. From Old French ermine, possibly from a Germanic word for the weasel or linked to the word for "Armenian," since traders once associated the fur with Armenia.
How many meanings does “ermine” have?
“Ermine” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small weasel found in cold northern regions, whose brown fur turns white in winter except for a black-tipped tail.
