walrus
Walrus (noun) means a large Arctic marine mammal with tusks, thick wrinkled skin, and flippers. Example: “A walrus hauled itself onto the ice floe to rest.”
How to use walrus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe tusked Arctic sea mammal, or a bushy drooping moustache named after it.
Word forms
walrussed past tense, walrused past tense, walruses plural, walrus plural, walrusses plural, walri plural, walrii plural, walruses singular, walrusses singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ hauled itself onto the ice floe to rest.
Etymology
Borrowed from Dutch walrus, itself a blend of wal ("whale") and ros ("horse") — an old sailors' description of the animal as part-whale, part-horse.
Frequently asked questions
What does “walrus” mean?
The word “walrus” means a large Arctic marine mammal with tusks, thick wrinkled skin, and flippers. In plain terms, the tusked Arctic sea mammal, or a bushy drooping moustache named after it.
How do you pronounce “walrus”?
“Walrus” is pronounced WAWL-ruhs (/ˈwɑl.ɹəs/ in IPA).
How do you use “walrus” in a sentence?
Here is “walrus” used in a sentence: “A walrus hauled itself onto the ice floe to rest.”
What part of speech is “walrus”?
“Walrus” is a noun.
Where does the word “walrus” come from?
The word “walrus” comes from Dutch. Borrowed from Dutch walrus, itself a blend of wal ("whale") and ros ("horse") — an old sailors' description of the animal as part-whale, part-horse.
How many meanings does “walrus” have?
“Walrus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large Arctic marine mammal with tusks, thick wrinkled skin, and flippers.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include walrus: