ermine
noun
er·mine
| \ ˈər-mən
\
\
plural ermines
Definition of ermine
1 or plural ermine
a
: any of several weasels whose coats become white in winter usually with black on the tip of the tail
especially
: a weasel (Mustela erminea) chiefly of northern Eurasia and North America that has a short tail, is found in varied habitats (such as forest, grassland, and tundra), and preys especially on small mammals (such as voles and mice) : short-tailed weasel, stoat
b
: the white fur of the ermine
2
: a rank or office whose ceremonial or official robe is ornamented with ermine
Illustration of ermine
ermine 1a: winter coat
Examples of ermine in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Republican’ long for an ermine stole, a scepter and an orb. — Clark Collis, EW.com, "Elvis Costello refers to Donald Trump as a 'mediocre entrepreneur' in letter accepting award from Queen," 10 June 2019 At the Plaza, Mrs. Walsh held court in her suite, swathed in ermine wraps, her nails painted to match the color of her dress. — Julie Satow, New York Times, "The Widows of the Plaza Hotel," 7 June 2019 From Snow Peak’s pristine white anorak (like ermine in fleece form) to Battenwear’s Mr. Rogers-goes-to-Aspen nubby cardigan to Supreme’s lively leopard upgrade, brands are pushing fleece into fashion territory. — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "That Old Patagonia Fleece Looking Tired? Try These Upgrades," 20 Sep. 2018 In show notes, the brand was also careful to emphasize the fabrics used, organza and chiffon among them, directly mentioning fur only once (the adorable ermine). — Rhonda Richford, The Hollywood Reporter, "Fendi Embraces Faux Over Fur in Paris Couture Show," 5 July 2018 Instead, whenever a hereditary peer hangs up his ermine, a pantomime of democracy follows. — The Economist, "Peers fight for a place in the House of Lords," 21 June 2018 The bride wore an ermine blanket stole in the glass carriage on her way to the palace to guard against the winter chill. — Hamish Bowles, Vogue, "The Royal Bride Who Wore Pink," 18 May 2018 Lock partnered with the jeweler Garrard & Co, also the holder of a royal warrant, to fit George IV’s crown to Queen Elizabeth II’s head for her 1953 coronation, relining the interior with ermine and purple velvet. — Amy Tara Koch, New York Times, "A Road Map to Shopping Like a Royal in London," 9 May 2018 With a 6-foot-wide skirt and lavish ermine fur trimming, the 1760s formal court dress is a showstopper. — Susan Delson, WSJ, "Fashion’s Glorification—and Devastation—of Nature," 20 Apr. 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'ermine.' 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 ermine
ermine
noun
English Language Learners Definition of ermine
US
: a small animal that has a long body and fur that turns white in winter
: the white fur of an ermine
See the full definition for ermine in the English Language Learners Dictionary
ermine
noun
er·mine
| \ ˈər-mən
\
\
Kids Definition of ermine
: a weasel of northern regions having a winter coat of white fur with a tail tipped in black
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