groundhog
groundhog — noun
1. a medium-sized brown rodent with a short tail and strong claws, found in North A
a medium-sized brown rodent with a short tail and strong claws, found in North America, that lives in a hole it digs in the ground and sleeps through the winter.
A groundhog came out of its hole and sniffed the cool morning air.
come out of its hole — typical spring behaviour
The old groundhog waddled slowly across the dirt road near the farm.
Leila saw a groundhog eating clover in the field behind her house.
Groundhogs dig long tunnels that can damage the roots of fruit trees.
用法筆記
In Canada and the northern United States, this animal is also called a 'woodchuck'.
常見錯誤
2. the animal that is the main character in a North American tradition on February
the animal that is the main character in a North American tradition on February 2nd: people believe that if the groundhog comes out of its hole and sees its shadow after a sunny morning, winter will continue for six more weeks; but if the sky is cloudy and it does not see its shadow, spring will come early.
On Groundhog Day, people in Pennsylvania gather to watch the ceremony.
Groundhog Day — annual February 2nd tradition
The groundhog did not see its shadow this year, so spring should arrive early.
see its shadow — key prediction outcome
Ravi's class watched a short film about the Groundhog Day tradition in Canada.
Millions of people watch the groundhog prediction on television every February.
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 describes the animal within the cultural tradition of Groundhog Day, not the animal itself. The tradition is mainly observed in the United States and Canada. The phrase 'Groundhog Day' is also used to describe any situation that keeps repeating in exactly the same way.