shrew

/ʃru:d/

Thân thiện

A shrew scurries through the leaf litter in a forest.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A small, insectivorous mammal: A shrew is a tiny, mouse-like mammal characterized by a long, pointed snout, small eyes, and velvety fur. It is not a rodent but is related to moles.
   • A bad-tempered, scolding woman: A shrew is a pejorative term for a woman who is constantly nagging, arguing, or exhibiting a harsh, ill-tempered disposition.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Animal):
  • The scientist studied the common shrew in its natural habitat.
  • Shrews have a very high metabolic rate and must eat frequently.
• Noun (Person):
  • In the play, the character Katharina is famously portrayed as a shrew.
  • He complained that his neighbor was an old shrew who yelled at everyone.

Advanced Usage

• "shrewish" (adjective): Having the qualities of a shrew; ill-tempered and scolding.
  • He was afraid of her shrewish tongue.
• Historical/Literary Context: The term is famously used in William Shakespeare's , which has shaped its cultural understanding as a sharp-tongued woman.

Variants and Related Words

• Shrewmouse (noun): An older, alternative name for the animal.
  • The shrewmouse is an active hunter of insects.
• Shrewishness (noun): The quality of being shrewish.
  • Her constant shrewishness drove her friends away.

Synonyms

• For the animal: There is no common perfect synonym, but it is descriptively similar to a "small insectivore."
• For the person: Termagant, virago, harridan, scold, nag.

Idioms and Phrases

• "Taming of the shrew": A reference to the Shakespeare play, often used to describe the act of trying to subdue or calm a strong-willed, argumentative woman (note: this concept is often viewed critically in modern contexts).
  • His friends joked that marrying her would be his own personal taming of the shrew.

Học thuật

Noun

1. small mouselike mammal with a long snout; related to moles
2. a scolding nagging bad-tempered woman

Từ đồng nghĩa

• shrewmouse
• termagant