# beaver

/ˈbivɝ/ (US) · /bˈiːvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/beaver
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR B1

a large rodent with a flat tail and thick fur that lives in water and builds dams from wood.

For teachers: 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.

### 2. to work hard

verb · CEFR B2 · British English · Informal

to work very hard and stay busy with a task, usually for a long time.

For teachers: 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.

Usage: Usually followed by the particle 'away'.

### 4. fur or cloth

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the fur of a beaver or a heavy wool cloth that feels like it.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- 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.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.