Rodents are small mammals which have sharp front teeth. Rats, mice, and squirrels are rodents.
rodent in British English
(ˈrəʊdənt)
noun
a.
any of the relatively small placental mammals that constitute the order Rodentia, having constantly growing incisor teeth specialized for gnawing. The group includes porcupines, rats, mice, squirrels, marmots, etc
b.
(as modifier)
rodent characteristics
Derived forms
rodent-like (ˈrodent-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from Latin rōdere to gnaw, corrode
rodent in American English
(ˈroʊdənt)
adjective
1.
gnawing
2.
of or like a rodent or rodents
noun
3.
any of a very large order (Rodentia) of gnawing mammals, including rats, mice, squirrels,and beavers, characterized by constantly growing incisors adapted for gnawing or nibbling; esp., in popular usage, a rat or mouse
Word origin
L rodens, prp. of rodere, to gnaw: see rat
Examples of 'rodent' in a sentence
rodent
But the pellets were more like something a large rodent would produce.
The Sun (2011)
You may not find the dead rodents until your nose leads you to them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The last thing you need is to crack open some food and find a rodent with a full belly inside.
The Sun (2012)
They like mice or other small rodents and use their ears as much as their eyes to detect them moving below.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
They will also eat insects, rodents and other small animals.
Burton, John A. Animals of the World (1993)
Not to mention, a small rodent.
The Sun (2014)
Restless behaviour was also noted in cats, rodents and birds.
The Sun (2008)
A small rodent looked up at me.
The Sun (2010)
In other languages
rodent
British English: rodent /ˈrəʊdnt/ NOUN
Rodents are small mammals, for example rats and squirrels, with sharp front teeth.