[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/gerbil/)

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# gerbil

noun (a gerbil, gerbils)

«gerbil» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

A small furry rodent with a long tail and strong back legs, from the deserts of Africa and Asia, often kept as a pet. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#m1)

### In the lessons

In children's life it is a common classroom or home pet, like a hamster. In science it shows desert adaptations: gerbils need little water and dig burrows. Stories use it as a small cute pet that must be fed and cleaned out. Phrases: gerbil cage, pet gerbil.

### Examples

- Our class gerbil is called Nibbles. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x1)
- Gerbils love to dig tunnels in deep bedding. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x2)
- My gerbil drinks very little water because it comes from the desert. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x3)
- Gerbils are happier living in pairs than alone. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x4)
- Please close the cage so the gerbil doesn't escape. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x5)
- The gerbil stood up on its back legs to sniff the air. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/#x6)

### Note

Countable: one gerbil, two gerbils. Not the same as a hamster: gerbils have long furry tails and are more active by day. In some places, such as California, keeping gerbils is not allowed.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gerbil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gerbil/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gerbil» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gerbil.html) on Mova free.