Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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noun
An often domesticated mammal (Mustela putorius furo) rather like a weasel, descended from the European polecat and often trained to hunt burrowing animals.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A black-footed ferret (Mustela nigripes).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A diligent searcher.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A tape of silk, cotton, or ribbon, used to tie documents, clothing, etc. or along the edge of fabric.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: dated
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To hunt game with ferrets.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To uncover and bring to light by searching; usually to ferret out.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive, broadly
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
domesticated albino variety of the European polecat bred for hunting rats and rabbits
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: polecat, fitch, foulmart, foumart, Mustela putorius
noun
musteline mammal of prairie regions of United States; nearly extinct
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: black-footed ferret, Mustela nigripes
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: musteline mammal, mustelid, musteline
verb
search and discover through persistent investigation
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: ferret out
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: discover, find
verb
hunt with ferrets
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hunt, run, hunt down, track down
verb
hound or harry relentlessly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hound, hunt, trace
History
From Middle English furet, ferret, from Old French furet, from Vulgar Latin *furittum (“weasel, ferret”), diminutive of Latin fūr (“thief”).
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *bhleh3- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *bhléh3s Proto-Italic *flōs Latin flōrem Italian fiore Proto-Indo-European *-tós Proto-Italic *-tosder.? Late Latin -ittus Italian -etto Italian fiorettobor. English ferret Borrowed from Italian fioretto.
Across languages
109 source translations are retained for this English entry.
