chinchilla
noun
chin·chil·la
| \ chin-ˈchi-lə
\
\
Definition of chinchilla
1
: either of two small South American rodents (Chinchilla laniger and C. brevicaudata of the family Chinchillidae) of the high Andes that are the size of large squirrels, have very soft pearly-gray fur, and are extensively bred in captivity
also
: the fur of a chinchilla
2
: a heavy twilled woolen coating
Illustration of chinchilla
Examples of chinchilla in a Sentence
The collar of the coat is chinchilla.
Recent Examples on the Web
The place would be used to house rabbits, guinea pigs and an occasional chinchilla — all animals that are in need of permanent homes. — Joan Morris, The Mercury News, "Are there non-lethal ways of controlling Bay Area’s rat population?," 9 Aug. 2019 For more than three decades, furrier Bennie Lin outfitted San Francisco’s elite in custom pieces — chinchilla vests, full-length mink coats and lynx jackets — from his showroom in the South of Market neighborhood. — Dustin Gardiner, SFChronicle.com, "Fur clothing’s days could be numbered in California — bill would ban sales," 17 July 2019 Goats, chickens, tortoises and chinchillas are housed there. — Georgann Yara, azcentral, "This Mesa home gives new meaning to ‘bird house’ with a 2-story aviary," 11 July 2019 Tiger the chinchilla has been adopted from the Human Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) — for a second time. — Nicole Aimone, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chinchilla linked to 2015 animal hording incident in Waukesha has been adopted from HAWS for the second time," 13 June 2018 Kittens, snakes, and even a chinchilla have moved onto campuses across the country to help support students during the upcoming year. — Mckenzie Schwark, Teen Vogue, "Therapy Animals Are on Some College Campuses for Back-to-School Season," 29 Aug. 2018 When the temperature drops, there's a chinchilla blanket ready to warm things up. — Kristina Stewart Ward, ELLE Decor, "Gilles Mendel's Fashion-Forward Home," 5 Jan. 2010 The couple was also ordered to relinquish the remaining 49 chinchillas in their possession to HAWS within 30 to 60 days. — Nicole Aimone, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Chinchilla linked to 2015 animal hording incident in Waukesha has been adopted from HAWS for the second time," 13 June 2018 In this way, KrioRus has cryopreserved 61 people and 31 pets, including a cat, a goldfinch, and a chinchilla. — Laura Mallonee, WIRED, "The Mystics Seeking Eternal Life Through Liquid Nitrogen," 22 June 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chinchilla.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for chinchilla
chinchilla
noun
English Language Learners Definition of chinchilla
: a small South American animal that has soft gray fur
: the fur of a chinchilla
See the full definition for chinchilla in the English Language Learners Dictionary
chinchilla
noun
chin·chil·la
| \ chin-ˈchi-lə
\
\
Kids Definition of chinchilla
: a South American animal that is a rodent resembling a squirrel and is often raised for its soft silvery gray fur
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