Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small aquatic monotreme mammal: A semi-aquatic, egg-laying mammal native to eastern Australia and Tasmania, characterized by a broad, flat, duck-like bill, a beaver-like tail, and webbed feet. It is the sole living representative of the family Ornithorhynchidae.
   • A type of primitive fish: A freshwater fish (Polyodon spathula) found in the Mississippi River basin, notable for its long, paddle-shaped snout.

2. Adjective:

   • Having a beak resembling that of a duck: Describing something, typically an animal like a dinosaur, that possesses a broad, flat bill similar to that of a duck.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Mammal):

  • The duckbill, or platypus, is one of the few venomous mammals.
  • We were lucky to spot a duckbill swimming in the creek.

• Noun (Fish):

  • The paddlefish, also called a duckbill, uses its long snout to detect plankton.
  • Conservation efforts are underway to protect the duckbill in its native river habitat.

• Adjective:

  • The duckbill dinosaur is formally known as a hadrosaur.
  • The fossil clearly shows the duckbill skull shape.

Advanced Usage

• In paleontology: The term "duckbill" is commonly used informally to refer to hadrosaurid dinosaurs, a group known for their distinctive broad, flattened snouts.
  • The museum's new exhibit features a complete skeleton of a duckbill dinosaur.

Variants and Related Words

• Duck-billed (Adjective): This hyphenated form is often used as an adjective.
  • The duck-billed platypus is a unique creature.
• Platypus (Noun): The more common name for the monotreme .
• Paddlefish (Noun): The more common name for the fish .
• Hadrosaur (Noun): The formal scientific name for the so-called "duckbill" dinosaurs.

Synonyms

• For the mammal: Platypus, .
• For the fish: Paddlefish, spoonbill catfish.
• For the adjective: Duck-billed, platypus-like (context-dependent).

Related Phrases and Compounds

• Duckbill platypus: A common compound name for the monotreme.
  • The duckbill platypus lays eggs instead of giving live birth.
• Duckbill dinosaur: A common descriptive phrase for hadrosaurs.
  • Children are often fascinated by duckbill dinosaurs.

Adjective

1. having a beak resembling that of a duck
   • a duck-billed dinosaur

Noun

1. small densely furred aquatic monotreme of Australia and Tasmania having a broad bill and tail and webbed feet; only species in the family Ornithorhynchidae
2. primitive fish of the Mississippi valley having a long paddle-shaped snout