noun

rabbit

RA-biht

noun

A small, long-eared mammal known for its fast breeding and hopping movement.

"A wild rabbit darted across the garden at dusk."

"They kept two pet rabbits in a hutch out back."

A runner in a race whose job is to set a fast early pace for a teammate or rival, without trying to win themselves.

"The rabbit dropped out after the first two laps, having done her job."

verb

To talk on and on, often about nothing important.

"He kept rabbiting on about his holiday until we changed the subject."

How to Use Rabbit

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe familiar long-eared animal, though the word is also used for a pacesetting runner or, as a verb, for talking too much.

Common pairings

rabbit hole rabbit on about pet rabbit

Word Forms

rabbited past tense, rabbitted past tense, rabbited past tense, rabbits plural, rabbits singular, rabbits singular

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A wild _____ darted across the garden at dusk.

Etymology

Entered English from Old French/Middle Dutch roots in the late Middle Ages, originally meaning specifically a young rabbit; it replaced the older word "cony" once that word became a crude euphemism.

Synonyms

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bunny bunny rabbit coney cony

Related Words

bunny Coney

Rhymes for rabbit

jackrabbit

See all rhymes for rabbit →

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