Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small rodent with soft, dense, pearly grey fur, native to the Andes mountains of South America and bred in captivity for its valuable fur.
   • The expensive, silvery-grey fur obtained from this animal.
   • A thick, twilled fabric, typically made from wool and cotton.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The chinchilla is a nocturnal creature that lives in colonies in the mountains.
  • She keeps a pet chinchilla in a large, multi-level cage.
• Noun (Fur):
  • The elegant coat was trimmed with luxurious chinchilla.
  • Chinchilla is one of the densest and softest furs in the world.
• Noun (Fabric):
  • The winter coat was made from a durable chinchilla cloth.

Advanced Usage

• "Chinchilla" as a modifier: The word is often used attributively (like an adjective) to describe things made from or resembling the animal or its fur.
  • She wore a stunning chinchilla stole to the gala. (A stole made from chinchilla fur.)
  • The fabric has a chinchilla-like texture. (A texture resembling the fur.)

Variants and Related Words

• Chinchilla lanigera: The scientific name for the long-tailed chinchilla, the species most commonly kept as a pet or bred for fur.
• Chinchillidae: The biological family that includes chinchillas and their relatives, viscachas.

Synonyms

• For the animal: rodent, caviomorph (technical term for the related group of rodents).
• For the fur: pelt, pelage (more general terms for animal fur).
• For the fabric: wool-cotton blend, twill.

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Chinchilla dust: Fine volcanic ash or special sand used for dust baths, which is essential for a chinchilla's fur and skin health.
• Chinchilla ranch: A facility where chinchillas are bred for their fur.

Noun

1. small rodent with soft pearly grey fur; native to the Andes but bred in captivity for fur
2. a thick twilled fabric of wool and cotton
3. the expensive silvery grey fur of the chinchilla