groundhog
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
a small, furry North American animal that lives in tunnels underground.
a species of marmot, Marmota monax, native to North America, known for its burrowing behavior and hibernation.
Simple“A groundhog lived under our garden shed and ate all the lettuce.”
In context“The groundhog is one of the few species that enters into true hibernation, remaining in its burrow for the duration of the winter months.”
Synonymswoodchuckmarmot - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
the animal used in a tradition to predict if spring will arrive early.
the focal point of the North American 'Groundhog Day' tradition, where the animal's behavior is said to predict the weather.
Simple“If the groundhog sees its shadow in February, people say winter will last longer.”
In context“Every February, crowds gather to see if the groundhog will emerge from its hole and provide a sign of an early spring.”
From ground + hog.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.