squirrel
squirrel — noun
1. a small wild creature with soft fur and a bushy tail that lives in trees and gat
a small wild creature with soft fur and a bushy tail that lives in trees and gathers nuts and seeds to eat
A red squirrel buried a nut in the garden while the children watched.
collocation: bury + nut / acorn
Every morning, Sumin leaves peanuts on the balcony for the squirrels.
leave + food for squirrels
The grey squirrel leaped from one tree branch to another without stopping.
Nellie pointed at a squirrel on the fence, holding an acorn in its tiny paws.
Squirrels hide their food in many places so that other animals cannot find it.
- chipmunk
a smaller animal with stripes on its back, found mainly on the ground rather than in trees
- flying squirrel
a type of squirrel with skin flaps that allow it to glide between trees
用法筆記
This sense is the everyday meaning. In Taiwan, both red squirrels and flying squirrels can be seen in mountain areas.
常見錯誤
2. the soft hair or pelt taken from a squirrel, used for making coats, hats, or art
the soft hair or pelt taken from a squirrel, used for making coats, hats, or artists' brushes
The antique shop sold a small brush made from squirrel hair.
squirrel hair + brush making
Manuela discovered that the old coat in her grandmother's closet was lined with squirrel fur.
Traditional Chinese painting brushes are often made from fine squirrel hair.
Conservation groups have asked people not to buy clothing made with squirrel fur.
用法筆記
This sense is now uncommon. Most modern coats use synthetic materials or fur from farmed animals.
squirrel — verb
1. to hide or save something, especially money, food, or other supplies, so that it
to hide or save something, especially money, food, or other supplies, so that it can be used later
Benjamin squirreled away a few coins every week in an old jar.
squirrel away + money + location
Nkechi had squirreled away enough savings to buy a used car.
present perfect: had squirreled away
The children squirreled away snacks in their backpacks before the long bus ride.
Élise's father had been squirreling away old books in the attic for decades.
- squander
to waste money or supplies carelessly
文法句型
squirrel + away + noun phrase
squirrel + noun phrase + away
用法筆記
Almost always used with the particle 'away' (squirrel something away). The object is typically money, food, or useful items that someone plans to use in the future.