noun
Uncommon
mammal
MA-muhl
Mammal (noun) means a warm-blooded vertebrate animal with hair or fur that feeds its young with milk. Example: “Whales are mammals even though they live in the ocean.”
noun
1
A warm-blooded vertebrate animal with hair or fur that feeds its young with milk.
"Whales are mammals even though they live in the ocean."
"Humans, dogs, and elephants are all mammals."
How to use mammal
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishAny animal that has fur, is warm-blooded, and nurses its young with milk.
Memory tip
A good memory hook: "mammal" and "mammary gland" share the same Latin root, mamma, meaning breast.
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Word forms
- Plural
- mammals
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Whales are _____ even though they live in the ocean.
Etymology
From Modern Latin Mammalia, coined in 1758 by Linnaeus, from Latin mamma ("breast").
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “mammal” mean?
The word “mammal” means a warm-blooded vertebrate animal with hair or fur that feeds its young with milk. In plain terms, any animal that has fur, is warm-blooded, and nurses its young with milk.
How do you pronounce “mammal”?
“Mammal” is pronounced MA-muhl (/ˈmæməl/ in IPA).
How do you use “mammal” in a sentence?
Here is “mammal” used in a sentence: “Whales are mammals even though they live in the ocean.”
What is another word for “mammal”?
Words with a similar meaning to “mammal” include mammalian.
What part of speech is “mammal”?
“Mammal” is a noun.
Where does the word “mammal” come from?
The word “mammal” dates back to around 1758 and comes from Latin. From Modern Latin Mammalia, coined in 1758 by Linnaeus, from Latin mamma ("breast").
Is “mammal” a common word?
“Mammal” is an uncommon word in modern English.
