Word
beaver
Phoneticsbeaver
US/ˈbivɝ/
UK/bˈiːvɐ/
Definitions
01the animal
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Science
n. a large rodent with a flat tail and thick fur that lives in water and builds dams from wood.
n. a semiaquatic rodent of the genus Castor, characterized by a broad, flat tail and webbed feet, known for constructing dams and lodges.
“The beaver used its sharp teeth to cut down a small tree for its dam.”
“Ecologists monitored the beaver population, noting how their dam-building activities significantly altered the local wetland ecosystem.”
02to work hard
B2 · Upper Intermediate British English · Informal
v. to work very hard and stay busy with a task, usually for a long time.
v. to work industriously or with great diligence; most frequently used in the phrasal verb 'beaver away'.
“She has been beavering away at her report all morning to finish it on time.”
“The researchers spent the entire weekend beavering away in the archives, desperate to find the missing documents before the trial began.”
Antonyms
03fur or cloth
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Technical
n. the fur of a beaver or a heavy wool cloth that feels like it.
n. the pelt or fur of the beaver, or a heavy, felted woollen cloth designed to mimic its texture.
“The expensive winter coat was lined with soft beaver.”
“Historically, the trade in beaver pelts was a primary driver of colonial exploration and economic competition in North America.”
Usage
The plural form is 'beavers'.
Real-World Examples
“In Maryland, a 13-year-old was swimming at a state park when a beaver attacked him.” “One way of achieving this aim is to encourage the return of beavers.” Etymology
* As an English surname, capitalization of beaver. This sense is also translated from several Native American names such as Cheyenne homa'e and Creek Echaswvlke of the same meaning. Doublet of Bieber and Bever. * Also as an English surname, from the placename Belvoir in Leicestershire.
Calque of Canadian French Castor. From French castor (“beaver”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Idioms
01. beaver away
02. eager beaver
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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