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noun

suckling

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Suckling (noun) means a baby or young animal that is still feeding on its mother's milk. Example: “The farmer kept the sucklings and their mothers in a separate pen.”

noun
1
A baby or young animal that is still feeding on its mother's milk.
"The farmer kept the sucklings and their mothers in a separate pen."
"As a suckling, the infant needed feeding every few hours."

How to use suckling

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA baby or baby animal that hasn't been weaned yet.

Common pairings
a suckling infant a suckling pig
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Word forms

Plural
sucklings
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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The farmer kept the _____ and their mothers in a separate pen.

Etymology

From Middle English sukeling, built from suck plus -ling (a suffix marking someone or something young or small). Related to German Säugling and Dutch zuigeling, which mean the same thing.

Origin: Middle English

nursling nurseling lactation

Related words

Rhymes for suckling

See all rhymes for suckling →

Frequently asked questions

What does “suckling” mean?
The word “suckling” means a baby or young animal that is still feeding on its mother's milk. In plain terms, a baby or baby animal that hasn't been weaned yet.
How do you use “suckling” in a sentence?
Here is “suckling” used in a sentence: “The farmer kept the sucklings and their mothers in a separate pen.”
What part of speech is “suckling”?
“Suckling” is a noun.
Where does the word “suckling” come from?
The word “suckling” comes from Middle English. From Middle English sukeling, built from suck plus -ling (a suffix marking someone or something young or small). Related to German Säugling and Dutch zuigeling, which mean the same thing.

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