gerbil
Americannoun
-
gerbils
plural
-
any of numerous small burrowing rodents of the genus Gerbillus and related genera, of Asia, Africa, and southern Russia, having long hind legs used for jumping.
-
Also called tamarisk gerbil. a jird, Meriones unguiculatus, that is popular as a pet.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of gerbil
1840–50; < French gerbille < New Latin gerbillus, diminutive of gerbo jerboa
Explanation
A gerbil is a small, mouse-like animal that's often kept as a pet. If you're thinking about adopting a gerbil, you might consider getting two — they're very sociable! Gerbil comes from the Latin genus Gerbillus and its Arabic source, yarbu. There are many different kinds of gerbils, but the Mongolian species is most commonly sold in pet stores. Native to hot climates, these burrowing rodents require bedding to tunnel through and shred, as well as a warm, dry environment to thrive. In the wild, gerbils scamper through grasslands and deserts in Asia and Africa, tunneling underground to evade predators.
Vocabulary lists containing gerbil
The Best School Year Ever
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
All About Sam
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
“I found that you can get a gerbil for four dollars and 99 cents,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 18, 2023
For me, it was about getting off the gerbil wheel of thoughts constantly spinning in my mind that made it hard to focus.
From Seattle Times ● Oct. 21, 2022
He fears that with Americans' attention span at gerbil level that there is a chance that people will forget.
From Salon ● May 12, 2022
Carl could see the gerbil wheel spinning in my brain.
From Slate ● Jun. 27, 2020
“Everyone wants to laugh in my face. They call me a deranged old gerbil who lives under the hill. I’m not even under a hill; I’m at the very base of it.”
From "The Way to Rio Luna" by Zoraida Cordova
But he always had animals: dogs, gerbils, fish, rabbits and, most to the young Carr’s liking, cats.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 15, 2024
Domestic rats, color-pointed gerbils, and American minks can also carry the mutation.
From National Geographic ● Oct. 27, 2023
“Lauren’s name had been selected at random to take all the school gerbils home for an upcoming long weekend. There were twelve of them.”
From Washington Post ● Feb. 9, 2023
Several delicious foods that are safe for humans can be very dangerous for pets in general – not just cats and dogs, but also birds, reptiles and pocket pets like mice, hamsters and gerbils.
From Salon ● Dec. 18, 2022
"You're trying to create killer gerbils? Does your father know about this?"
From "Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher" by Bruce Coville
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
