hamster
noun
ham·ster ˈham(p)-stər 
: any of a subfamily (Cricetinae) of small Old World rodents having very large cheek pouches
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The medical staff stepped in and even treated her hamster, her first pet, doctors said. 
Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2014 On a smaller note — literally — Kripke is obsessed with the idea of bringing the supe hamster Jamie back into the fold after the creature busted out of its Russian cell. Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2022 But a good meaningless goal is an act of protest against the self-optimization hamster wheel. Gloria Liu, The Atlantic, 9 July 2022 But an accident causes Gretel’s hamster Hamster (Beck Bennett) to receive powers instead of Kevin, who now forced to work with both to keep their city from danger. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 7 July 2022 Health authorities have now ordered all pet shops selling hamsters to shut, as well as mandatory testing of all who have purchased a hamster since Dec. 22. Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2022 And even details drawn directly from real life — the former John Simon Ritchie gets the Sid Vicious nickname after being bitten by Rotten’s pet hamster Sid — play extremely corny here. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2022 Everyone’s favorite hamster is apparently causing issues for others in the lobby. Kris Holt, Forbes, 3 May 2022 There have been other animal-to-human COVID-19 cases documented in Canada with white-tailed deer and a hamster in Japan. Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2022 See More
Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2014 On a smaller note — literally — Kripke is obsessed with the idea of bringing the supe hamster Jamie back into the fold after the creature busted out of its Russian cell. Nick Romano, EW.com, 3 Aug. 2022 But a good meaningless goal is an act of protest against the self-optimization hamster wheel. Gloria Liu, The Atlantic, 9 July 2022 But an accident causes Gretel’s hamster Hamster (Beck Bennett) to receive powers instead of Kevin, who now forced to work with both to keep their city from danger. Wilson Chapman, Variety, 7 July 2022 Health authorities have now ordered all pet shops selling hamsters to shut, as well as mandatory testing of all who have purchased a hamster since Dec. 22. Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2022 And even details drawn directly from real life — the former John Simon Ritchie gets the Sid Vicious nickname after being bitten by Rotten’s pet hamster Sid — play extremely corny here. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 31 May 2022 Everyone’s favorite hamster is apparently causing issues for others in the lobby. Kris Holt, Forbes, 3 May 2022 There have been other animal-to-human COVID-19 cases documented in Canada with white-tailed deer and a hamster in Japan. Detroit Free Press, 17 Apr. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
German, from Old High German hamustro, of Slavic origin; akin to Old Russian choměstorŭ hamster, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan hamaēstar- oppressor
First Known Use
1607, in the meaning defined above
Phrases Containing hamster
Kids Definition
hamster
noun
ham·ster ˈham-stər
: a stocky rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches
Medical Definition
hamster
noun
ham·ster ˈham(p)-stər
: any of numerous Old World rodents (Cricetus or a related genus) having very large cheek pouches and including several used as laboratory animals