noun
fox
FAHKS/fɑːks/
A bushy-tailed wild canine commonly having a reddish coat.
A red fox stands alert in the meadow, its bushy tail tipped white.
Etymology
Old English fox already named the animal. Its early figurative use for a clever person shows how long the animal has been associated with cunning.
In context
a fox named red was out looking for lunch his fur was the color of autumn leaves and his Bright Eyes sparkled with the kind of cleverness that all foxes seem to have
More examples
- The fox pounces on a mouse in the grass.
- Young foxes play near the entrance to their den.
- We sometimes see a fox crossing our yard at dusk.
Forms
fox · foxes
Similar words
- canine
- A broader term that also includes dogs, wolves, and coyotes.