otter
OT-uh
Otter (noun) means a sleek, semi-aquatic mammal with dense fur that hunts fish and other prey in rivers or coastal waters. Example: “A pair of otters played in the shallows near the dock.”
noun
1
A sleek, semi-aquatic mammal with dense fur that hunts fish and other prey in rivers or coastal waters.
"A pair of otters played in the shallows near the dock."
"The zoo built a new enclosure for its river otters."
2
Informally, a slim, hairy man, especially used within gay culture to contrast with a stockier "bear."
"He described himself as more of an otter than a bear."
How to use otter
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA playful, fish-eating water mammal — or, informally, a slim hairy man.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a river otter
a sea otter
a family of otters
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Word forms
- Plural
- otters
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A pair of _____ played in the shallows near the dock.
Etymology
From Old English otor, tracing back through Germanic roots to a Proto-Indo-European word for "water" — the same distant root behind the word "hydra."
Rhymes for otter
See all rhymes for otter →Frequently asked questions
What does “otter” mean?
The word “otter” means a sleek, semi-aquatic mammal with dense fur that hunts fish and other prey in rivers or coastal waters. In plain terms, a playful, fish-eating water mammal — or, informally, a slim hairy man.
How do you pronounce “otter”?
“Otter” is pronounced OT-uh (/ˈɑtɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “otter” in a sentence?
Here is “otter” used in a sentence: “A pair of otters played in the shallows near the dock.”
What part of speech is “otter”?
“Otter” is a noun.
Where does the word “otter” come from?
The word “otter” comes from Old English. From Old English otor, tracing back through Germanic roots to a Proto-Indo-European word for "water" — the same distant root behind the word "hydra.".
Is “otter” a common word?
“Otter” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “otter” have?
“Otter” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sleek, semi-aquatic mammal with dense fur that hunts fish and other prey in rivers or coastal waters.
