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
Synonyms
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
Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
Parts of the weapon’s leather-and-wood scabbard – and its beaver fur lining – have also survived.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Capybaras are the largest living rodents on earth and their size is twice that of a beaver.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
After decades of hiding, an elusive numerical critter known as the fifth busy beaver finally gave itself up.
—Bill Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beaver 
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Noun
The Wild Robot filmmakers found their look when going over early concept art that had the island’s natural environment and its animals — foxes, bears, beavers, opossums and others — drawn in a painterly way.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 6 Jan. 2025
Parts of the weapon’s leather-and-wood scabbard – and its beaver fur lining – have also survived.
—George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 27 Dec. 2024
Capybaras are the largest living rodents on earth and their size is twice that of a beaver.
—Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Dec. 2024
After decades of hiding, an elusive numerical critter known as the fifth busy beaver finally gave itself up.
—Bill Andrews, Quanta Magazine, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for beaver
Articles Related to beaver
Dictionary Entries Near beaver
Cite this Entry
“Beaver.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaver. Accessed 10 Feb. 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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