webfoot
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun: A foot having the toes connected by folds of skin. This anatomical feature is an adaptation for swimming, as the webbing increases surface area to push against water.
Usage
The term "webfoot" is used to describe the specific physical characteristic of certain animals, primarily aquatic birds and some amphibians. It is a technical or zoological term.
Examples
- Ducks and swans are easily identified by their webfoot.
- The frog's webfoot makes it an efficient swimmer.
- The presence of a webfoot is a key adaptation for life in the water.
Advanced Usage
- The term can be used in a comparative or descriptive sense outside of strict zoology.
- The mythical creature was depicted with large, scaly webfeet.
Variants and Related Words
- Webfooted (adjective): Having webfeet.
- Webfooted animals like otters are often found near rivers.
- Webbing (noun): The fold of skin itself that connects the toes.
- The webbing between its toes was very pronounced.
Synonyms
- Palmate foot (a more specific zoological term for a webfoot where the front toes are webbed).
- Swimming foot (a descriptive, non-technical term).
Different Meanings
The core meaning of "webfoot" is consistent. It does not have common idiomatic or metaphorical meanings in standard English. It strictly refers to the physical structure.
Noun
- a foot having the toes connected by folds of skin