hamster
Syllabification: (ham·ster)
Pronunciation: /ˈhamstər/
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Definition of hamster
noun
- a solitary burrowing rodent with a short tail and large cheek pouches for carrying food, native to Europe and northern Asia.
- Subfamily Cricetinae, family Muridae: several genera and species, in particular the golden hamster (Mesocricetus auratus), often kept as a pet or laboratory animal, and the common hamster (Cricetus cricetus)
Origin:
early 17th century: from German, from Old High German hamustro 'weevil'