noun
chinchilla
chin-CHIL-uh/tʃɪnˈtʃɪlə/
A small South American rodent with exceptionally soft fur.
The gray chinchilla rests on a rocky ledge with its bushy tail curved.
Etymology
Spanish chinchilla literally means “little bug,” but the rodent’s name may be a folk-etymological reshaping of a Quechua or Aymara word. The apparent bug connection therefore may not explain the original naming.
In context
this is a chinchilla they're from south america
More examples
- A gray chinchilla sits beside its wooden shelter.
- The chinchilla's rounded ears twitch at the sound.
- Two chinchillas rest together on the ledge.
Forms
chinchilla · chinchillas
Similar words
- rabbit
- A rabbit is a lagomorph; a chinchilla is a rodent with exceptionally dense soft fur.