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Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
rat noun 1 any of various small rodents, similar to mice but larger, which are found worldwide in huge numbers, and are notorious pests and transmitters of disease. 2 any of various unrelated rodents that resemble this animal, eg kangaroo rat. 3 colloq someone who is disloyal towards their friends, political party, etc. 4 colloq a strike-breaker; a blackleg. 5 colloq a despicable person. verb (ratted, ratting) intrans 1 to hunt or chase rats. 2 (usually rat on someone) colloq to betray their trust or desert them. 3 colloq to work as a blackleg. ratter noun a dog or other animal that catches and kills rats.smell a rat colloq to sense that something is not as it should be.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon ræt.
rat noun 1 any of various small rodents, similar to mice but larger, which are found worldwide in huge numbers, and are notorious pests and transmitters of disease. 2 any of various unrelated rodents that resemble this animal, eg kangaroo rat. 3 colloq someone who is disloyal towards their friends, political party, etc. 4 colloq a strike-breaker; a blackleg. 5 colloq a despicable person. verb (ratted, ratting) intrans 1 to hunt or chase rats. 2 (usually rat on someone) colloq to betray their trust or desert them. 3 colloq to work as a blackleg. ratter noun a dog or other animal that catches and kills rats.smell a rat colloq to sense that something is not as it should be.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon ræt.
rat noun 1 any of various small rodents, similar to mice but larger, which are found worldwide in huge numbers, and are notorious pests and transmitters of disease. 2 any of various unrelated rodents that resemble this animal, eg kangaroo rat. 3 colloq someone who is disloyal towards their friends, political party, etc. 4 colloq a strike-breaker; a blackleg. 5 colloq a despicable person. verb (ratted, ratting) intrans 1 to hunt or chase rats. 2 (usually rat on someone) colloq to betray their trust or desert them. 3 colloq to work as a blackleg. ratter noun a dog or other animal that catches and kills rats.smell a rat colloq to sense that something is not as it should be.
ETYMOLOGY: Anglo-Saxon ræt.
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The Chambers Dictionary (13th edition)
“Chambers is the one I keep at my right hand”- Philip Pullman.
The unrivalled dictionary for word lovers, now in its 13th edition.
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The Chambers Thesaurus
The Chambers Thesaurus (4th Edition) is a veritable treasure-trove, including the greatest selection of alternative words and phrases available in an A to Z format. -
Chambers Biographical Dictionary
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Thoroughly revised and updated for its 9th edition.
Consult Chambers 21st Century Dictionary, The Chambers Thesaurus (1996) or Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997 edition with amendments). Enter your search and choose your title from the drop-down menu.
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