noun
taxidermy
TAK-sihd-mee
Taxidermy (noun) means the craft of preserving, stuffing, and mounting animal skins so they look lifelike. Example: “The lodge's walls were covered in taxidermy from decades of hunting trips.”
noun
1
The craft of preserving, stuffing, and mounting animal skins so they look lifelike.
"The lodge's walls were covered in taxidermy from decades of hunting trips."
verb
1
To preserve and mount the skin of a dead animal in a lifelike pose.
"He learned to taxidermy birds as a teenager."
"It is indeed true that in recent years the business of taxidermying cats and dogs for mourning owners has blossomed into some form of art, especially in the United States."
— Giovanni Aloi, Art and Animals (2012)
How to use taxidermy
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe art or craft of preserving dead animals so they look alive for display.
Common pairings
a taxidermy shop
practice taxidermy
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Word forms
- Plural
- taxidermies
- Third person singular
- taxidermies
- Past tense
- taxidermied
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The lodge's walls were covered in _____ from decades of hunting trips.
Etymology
From French taxidermie, built from Ancient Greek taxis ("arrangement") and derma ("skin") — literally "the arranging of skin."
Frequently asked questions
What does “taxidermy” mean?
The word “taxidermy” means the craft of preserving, stuffing, and mounting animal skins so they look lifelike. In plain terms, the art or craft of preserving dead animals so they look alive for display.
How do you pronounce “taxidermy”?
“Taxidermy” is pronounced TAK-sihd-mee (/ˈtæksɪdɚmi/ in IPA).
How do you use “taxidermy” in a sentence?
Here is “taxidermy” used in a sentence: “The lodge's walls were covered in taxidermy from decades of hunting trips.”
What part of speech is “taxidermy”?
Depending on how it is used, “taxidermy” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “taxidermy” come from?
The word “taxidermy” comes from Ancient Greek. From French taxidermie, built from Ancient Greek taxis ("arrangement") and derma ("skin") — literally "the arranging of skin.".
How many meanings does “taxidermy” have?
“Taxidermy” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the craft of preserving, stuffing, and mounting animal skins so they look lifelike.
