beaver

1 of 3

noun (1)

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

plural beavers

1

or plural beaver

a

: either of two large semiaquatic herbivorous rodents comprising a family (Castoridae including Castor canadensis of North America and C. fiber of Eurasia), having webbed hind feet and a broad flat scaly tail, and constructing dams and partially submerged lodges

b

: the fur or pelt of the beaver

2

a

: a hat made of beaver fur or a fabric imitation

b

: silk hat

3

: a heavy fabric of felted wool or of cotton napped on both sides

4

vulgar : the genitals of a female especially when covered with pubic hair

beaver

2 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

2

: a helmet visor

Illustration of beaver

• B beaver 1

beaver

3 of 3

verb

beavered; beavering; beavers

intransitive verb

: to work energetically

beavering away at the problem

Synonyms

Verb

• bang away
• dig (away)
• drudge
• endeavor
• fag
• grub
• hump
• hustle
• labor
• moil
• peg (away)
• plod
• plow
• plug
• slave
• slog
• strain
• strive
• struggle
• sweat
• toil
• travail
• tug
• work

Examples of beaver in a Sentence

Verb

he's been beavering away at the various courses for his dinner party all day long, hoping to impress his new friends

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Homeostasis and Stability: Like beavers and wolves, leaders create balance by managing both innovation (growth) and stability (process). —Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025

The short-faced bear went extinct around 11,000 years, at the end of the Pleistocene, along with most of the large mammals that lived alongside it, including all the large carnivores listed above, as well as giant ground sloths, mammoths, mastodons, giant beavers, camels, and giant armadillos. —Sara Novak, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2024

Sprawling fields have become habitats for native plant life and wild animals: beavers, coyotes and various bird species. —Lyndsay C. Green, Detroit Free Press, 27 Nov. 2024

Fur trappers, the almanac stated, used this time to hunt beavers for their pelts. —John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 16 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bever, from Old English beofor; akin to Old High German bibar beaver, and probably to Old English brūn brown — more at brown

Noun (2)

Middle English baviere, from Middle French

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1946, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing beaver

• beaver away
• beaver dam
• eager beaver

Kids Definition

beaver

1 of 2 noun

bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

plural beaver or beavers

1

: a large plant-eating rodent that has webbed hind feet and a broad flat tail and that builds dams and houses of mud and branches which are partly underwater

2

: the fur of a beaver

beaver

2 of 2 noun

: a piece of armor protecting the lower part of the face

Geographical Definition

Beaver

geographical name

Bea·​ver ˈbē-vər 

1

river 280 miles (451 kilometers) long in northwestern Oklahoma forming the upper course of the North Canadian River

2

river 305 miles (491 kilometers) long Canada in Alberta and Saskatchewan flowing east into the Churchill River