noun
lemming
LEM-ing/ˈlemɪŋ/
A small Arctic rodent commonly associated with mass movement.
A lemming crouches beside a stone among low tundra plants.
Etymology
Old Norse lomundr names the rodent. The figurative blind follower draws on lemmings' sudden mass migrations, which sometimes end in plunges into the sea.
In context
He dissected a lemming and noticed its anatomical similarities to other rodents like voles and hamsters
More examples
- When food becomes scarce, lemmings may move in large groups.
- A snowy owl hunts lemmings across the tundra.
- The lemming digs tunnels beneath the snow.
Forms
lemming · lemmings
Similar words
- rodent
- A broader category that includes lemmings, mice, rats, and squirrels.