pack rat
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Noun:
- A rodent species: A bushy-tailed rodent (Neotoma) native to western North America, known for its habit of collecting and hoarding various objects.
- A person who hoards: A person who collects and saves a large number of items, especially things that are unnecessary or have been discarded by others.
Usage Examples
- Noun (Animal):
- The pack rat built a large nest of sticks and debris.
- We found shiny bottle caps and coins in the pack rat's midden.
- Noun (Person):
- My uncle is a pack rat who never throws anything away.
- She's such a pack rat that her garage is filled with old newspapers.
Advanced Usage
- The term pack rat for a person is often used informally and can carry a mildly critical or humorous tone, implying the accumulation is excessive or disorganized.
- I'm trying to be less of a pack rat and finally declutter my house.
Variants and Related Words
- Packrat (noun): A common alternative spelling, especially when referring to a person.
- He's a notorious packrat when it comes to electronic cables.
Synonyms
- (For the person): Hoarder, collector, magpie, accumulator.
- (For the animal): Woodrat, trade rat.
Related Idioms
- To have pack rat tendencies: To exhibit behavior characteristic of a pack rat (person).
- I must admit I have pack rat tendencies when it comes to books.
Noun
- any of several bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Neotoma of western North America; hoards food and other objects
- someone who collects things that have been discarded by others