amphibian Hear it!

amphibian Definition

am·phib·ian (am fib′ē ən)

noun

  1. any of a class (Amphibia) of coldblooded, scaleless vertebrates, consisting of frogs, toads, newts, salamanders, and caecilians, that usually begin life in the water as tadpoles with gills and later develop lungs
  2. any amphibious animal or plant
  3. any aircraft that can take off from and come down on either land or water
  4. a tank or other vehicle that can travel on either land or water

Etymology: < ModL Amphibia < Gr amphibia, neut. pl. of amphibios: see amphibious

adjective

  1. of amphibians
  2. amphibious

amphibian Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • include: His talk will be on four wild animals, including an amphibian, reptile, bird and mammal.
  • eat: Otters also eat amphibians, crayfish and the occasional bird and small mammal.
  • benefit: Attempts to improve the water quality in the smaller ponds may benefit amphibians.
  • keep: It can also be used to clean out tanks used to keep the amphibians.
  • develop: The lush growth provides a safe nursery for developing amphibians including toads, frogs and smooth newts.
  • help: C an you help this amazing amphibian survive in Cambridgeshire ponds?

Adjective modifier

  • native: No native amphibians are known and any frogs, newts or toads found have been introduced.
  • rare: The guide details some of the many steps in place to protect this rare amphibian during The Open.
  • other: If you have a garden pond for newts and other amphibians, do not stock the pond with fish.
  • small: This area also allows small amphibians such as frogs and toads to enter the pond easily.
  • amazing: C an you help this amazing amphibian survive in Cambridgeshire ponds?
  • British: All the six native British amphibians have declining populations but most still occur on our waterways.

Modifies a noun

  • embryo: A similar example of signaling between cells had also been described in amphibian embryos.
  • specie: Good populations of the widespread amphibian species are also present.
  • pond: Advisory information on the creation of amphibian friendly ponds is available in various forms.
  • decline: In many cases the causes of amphibian declines are unknown, despite considerable research.
  • bone: Few amphibian bones may suggest the presence of an external structure around the feature.
  • population: Pond clusters - these are much more likely to hold key amphibian populations than individual ponds.

Noun used with modifier

  • adult: The most suitable bone for this is the end of a toe bone which can be quickly and easily removed from adult amphibians.
  • reptile: Anyone wishing to focus on systematic observations of reptiles and/or amphibians would be very welcome.