Illustration of beaver
- B beaver 1
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
1
: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face
2
: a helmet visor
beavered; beavering; beavers
: to work energetically
beavering away at the problem
Examples of beaver in a Sentence
Verb
he's been beavering away at the various courses for his dinner party all day long, hoping to impress his new friends
Recent Examples on the Web
Scott Travers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Tables are broken, a beaver is thrown into a wall, glass bottles break (with the cost of their damage appearing onscreen) and a fish is used as a fire hose.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Anchored to what is called a seawall, a wetland ecosystem for a diverse range of wildlife — including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and all types of insects, bats, and fish — has been created by mostly volunteers.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
Hats made of beaver pelt, Boone explains, are considered heirloom items—the kind of thing the wealthy Dutton family would have.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for beaver
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Noun
One particular beaver, named Geronimo, became the program’s reluctant test subject.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2025
Tables are broken, a beaver is thrown into a wall, glass bottles break (with the cost of their damage appearing onscreen) and a fish is used as a fire hose.
—Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2025
Anchored to what is called a seawall, a wetland ecosystem for a diverse range of wildlife — including beavers, muskrats, snapping turtles and all types of insects, bats, and fish — has been created by mostly volunteers.
—Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, 18 Feb. 2025
Hats made of beaver pelt, Boone explains, are considered heirloom items—the kind of thing the wealthy Dutton family would have.
—Elise Taylor, Vogue, 29 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for beaver
Articles Related to beaver
Cite this Entry
“Beaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaver. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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