beaver

1 of 3

noun (1)

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

plural beavers

1

or plural beaver

a

: either of two large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family (Castoridae including Castor canadensis of North America and C. fiber of Eurasia), having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges

b

: the fur or pelt of the beaver

2

a

: a hat made of beaver fur or a fabric imitation

b

: silk hat

3

: a heavy fabric of felted wool or of cotton napped on both sides

4

vulgar : the genitals of a female especially when covered with pubic hair

beaver

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

2

: a helmet visor

Illustration of beaver

• B beaver 1

beaver

3 of 3

verb

beavered; beavering; beavers

intransitive verb

: to work energetically

beavering away at the problem

Synonyms

Verb

• bang away
• dig (away)
• drudge
• endeavor
• fag
• grub
• hump
• hustle
• labor
• moil
• peg (away)
• plod
• plow
• plug
• slave
• slog
• strain
• strive
• struggle
• sweat
• toil
• travail
• tug
• work

Examples of beaver in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

All five of the beavers shared a lodge at the preserve. —Brooke Baitinger, Idaho Statesman, 15 Apr. 2024

Even the Buc-ee’s beaver, the mascot of the beloved Texas convenience-store chain, made an appearance, sidling up next to Keith Urban during a goofy segment about reading artists’ minds. —Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 8 Apr. 2024

One beaver seems to be on a mission to build more than dams. —James Powel, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024

One of the young beavers appears to have paired up with a resident beaver who already lived a bit downstream, Cook said. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024

The beavers, the zoo said, could at last get close to each other. —Martin Weil, Washington Post, 14 Feb. 2024

But furry mammals like beavers and otters that spend most of their lives wet manage to avoid getting their fur slimy. —Discover Magazine, 12 Jan. 2024

The exploitation of beavers four hundred thousand years ago was studied by a team analyzing remains recovered during thirty-three years of excavations at Bilzingsleben by Dietrich Mania. —Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024

Other historical exceptions have included capybara in Venezuela, muskrat in Michigan, and beaver in Quebec. —Shane Mitchell, Saveur, 28 Mar. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bever, from Old English beofor; akin to Old High German bibar beaver, and probably to Old English brūn brown — more at brown

Noun (2)

Middle English baviere, from Middle French

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing beaver

• beaver away
• beaver dam
• eager beaver

Kids Definition

beaver

1 of 2 noun

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

plural beaver or beavers

1

: a large plant-eating rodent that has webbed hind feet and a broad flat tail and that builds dams and houses of mud and branches which are partly underwater

2

: the fur of a beaver

beaver

2 of 2 noun

: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

Geographical Definition

Beaver

geographical name

Bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

1

river 280 miles (451 kilometers) long in northwestern Oklahoma forming the upper course of the North Canadian River

2

river 305 miles (491 kilometers) long Canada in Alberta and Saskatchewan flowing east into the Churchill River