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beaver

Definition

  • noun: a small animal that has thick, brown fur and a wide, flat tail, that cuts down trees with its teeth, and that builds dams and underwater houses with mud and branches
  • noun: either of two large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family (Castoridae including 'Castor canadensis' of North America and 'C. fiber' of Eurasia), having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges
  • verb: to work energetically
  • often used before another noun
  • synonyms: vandyke, viso, activist

Examples

  • When she first started working she was a real 'eager beaver'.

  • They're still 'beavering away at' the problem.

  • a 'beaver' dam [=a dam built by beavers]

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) No. no. no. You're iust a young kid! What are you doing here? You ought to be out in a convertible... ...bird-dogging chicks and banging beaver. What are you doing here. tor Christ's sake? What's so tunny about that? Jesus. l mean. you guys do nothing but complain about how you can't... (..)
    1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
  • (..) l practically had to take to sewing my pants shut. But between you and me... ...she might have been . When you get that little red beaver... ...right there in tront ot you. l don't think it's crazy at all. And l don't think you do. either. l hear what you're saying. No man alive could resist that. (..)
    1975 One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest