Rodent Means Gnawing
A rodent is a gnawing mammal. Nearly half of all mammal species are rodents, and their teeth never stop growing.
A rodent is a mammal of the order Rodentia, defined by a pair of continuously growing incisors. The Latin *rodere* means to gnaw, and the gnawing is compulsory: the incisors never stop growing, so a rodent that cannot wear them down will be unable to eat. Rodents account for roughly forty per cent of all mammal species.
- A gnawing mammal. *A small rodent.*
- Rodentia — the order. *In the order Rodentia.*
- Corrode — to eat away, from the same root. *Corroded metal.*
Word forms
| Form | Word | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Noun | rodent | A burrowing rodent. |
| Plural | rodents | Common rodents. |
| Order | Rodentia | The order Rodentia. |
| Related | corrode | Acid corrodes. |
| Related | erode | Wind erodes rock. |
How it is used in a sentence
- Rodent incisors never stop growing.Which is why they must gnaw.
- Rabbits are not rodents.They are lagomorphs.
- Corrode means to gnaw away.Same Latin verb.
Rodent facts
- Around 40 per cent — of all mammal species are rodents
- Ever-growing incisors — worn down by constant gnawing
- Enamel on the front only — so the teeth self-sharpen into a chisel edge
- Capybara — the largest living rodent
- Not rodents — rabbits, hares and pikas belong to a separate order
From Latin *rodentem*, gnawing, from *rodere*, to gnaw — the same root as *corrode* and *erode*.
Are rabbits rodents?
No. They are lagomorphs, a separate order distinguished partly by having a second pair of small upper incisors.
Why do rodent teeth self-sharpen?
Because enamel covers only the front surface. The softer back wears faster, leaving a chisel edge.