English Reference

Word

aardwolves

Phoneticsaard·wolves

Definition

n. small, shy animals from Africa that look like striped hyenas but mostly eat insects. They are famous for eating thousands of termites in a single night using their long, sticky tongues.

n. insectivorous mammals of the family Hyaenidae, native to East and Southern Africa. Unlike other hyenas, they possess reduced cheek teeth and a specialized tongue for consuming termites.

Examples

“The aardwolves hide in their burrows during the hot day.”

“While exploring the savanna at night, the researchers spotted two aardwolves foraging for termites near a large mound.”

“Ecologists noted that aardwolves play a vital role in the ecosystem by regulating termite populations, preventing the insects from over-consuming the sparse vegetation during the dry season.”

Examples

simple

“The aardwolves hide in their burrows during the hot day.”

contextual

“While exploring the savanna at night, the researchers spotted two aardwolves foraging for termites near a large mound.”

complex

“Ecologists noted that aardwolves play a vital role in the ecosystem by regulating termite populations, preventing the insects from over-consuming the sparse vegetation during the dry season.”

Usage

The plural form of 'aardwolf'.

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Rare
Updated

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