noun Uncommon

hamster

HAMS-tuh

Hamster (noun) means a small, short-tailed rodent with cheek pouches, often kept as a pet. Example: “My daughter keeps a hamster in a cage in her bedroom.”

noun

A small, short-tailed rodent with cheek pouches, often kept as a pet.

"My daughter keeps a hamster in a cage in her bedroom."

"The hamster stuffed both cheeks with sunflower seeds."

verb

(informal) To stash away or hoard something quietly, the way a hamster stores food in its cheeks.

"He'd been hamstering snacks in his desk drawer for weeks."

How to use hamster

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA small pet rodent that stores food in its cheek pouches.

Common pairings

pet hamster hamster wheel hamster cage

Word forms

hamstered past tense, hamsters plural, hamsters singular

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My daughter keeps a _____ in a cage in her bedroom.

Etymology

Borrowed from German Hamster, the name of the rodent.

Origin: German

Frequently asked questions

What does “hamster” mean?

The word “hamster” means a small, short-tailed rodent with cheek pouches, often kept as a pet. In plain terms, a small pet rodent that stores food in its cheek pouches.

How do you pronounce “hamster”?

“Hamster” is pronounced HAMS-tuh (/ˈhæm(p)stɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “hamster” in a sentence?

Here is “hamster” used in a sentence: “My daughter keeps a hamster in a cage in her bedroom.”

What part of speech is “hamster”?

Depending on how it is used, “hamster” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “hamster” come from?

The word “hamster” comes from German. Borrowed from German Hamster, the name of the rodent.

Is “hamster” a common word?

“Hamster” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “hamster” have?

“Hamster” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, short-tailed rodent with cheek pouches, often kept as a pet.

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Vocabulary lists that include hamster:

Words with German origins