beaver
n. countablen. a large animal with thick fur and a wide, flat tail that lives in water. It is famous for building dams out of wood and mud.
n. a large, semi-aquatic rodent of the genus Castor, native to the Northern Hemisphere. Characterised by thick waterproof fur, webbed hind feet, and a broad, flat, scaly tail used for swimming and signalling.
The beaver built a large dam across the stream.
We hiked down to the riverbank at dusk to see if we could spot a beaver working on its lodge.
Ecologists often refer to the beaver as a keystone species because the wetlands created by its dams support a vast array of other plants and animals.
* 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”).
The plural form is 'beavers'.