porcupine
Porcupine (noun) means a large rodent covered in sharp defensive spines called quills. Example: “The dog came home with a face full of porcupine quills.”
How to use porcupine
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA spiky rodent that raises its sharp quills when threatened.
Word forms
porcupines plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The dog came home with a face full of _____ quills.
Etymology
From Old French porc-espin, literally "spine pig" — from Latin porcus ("pig") and spinus ("spine").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for porcupine
See all rhymes for porcupine →Frequently asked questions
What does “porcupine” mean?
The word “porcupine” means a large rodent covered in sharp defensive spines called quills. In plain terms, a spiky rodent that raises its sharp quills when threatened.
How do you pronounce “porcupine”?
“Porcupine” is pronounced PAWK-yuu-pyn (/ˈpɔː(ɹ)kjʊˌpaɪn/ in IPA).
How do you use “porcupine” in a sentence?
Here is “porcupine” used in a sentence: “The dog came home with a face full of porcupine quills.”
What part of speech is “porcupine”?
“Porcupine” is a noun.
Where does the word “porcupine” come from?
The word “porcupine” comes from Latin. From Old French porc-espin, literally "spine pig" — from Latin porcus ("pig") and spinus ("spine").