Definition

1. 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

1. any of several bushy-tailed rodents of the genus Neotoma of western North America; hoards food and other objects
2. someone who collects things that have been discarded by others