noun / verb
- the sound made by a sheep or lamb
- to make a sound like a sheep or lamb
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
baa
/bɑː/
- The gentle baa of the sheep filled the quiet meadow.
- The lost lamb baaed pitifully, calling for its mother.
noun , verb
- a movement of a horse at a speed that is fairly fast but not very fast; a ride on a horse moving at this speed
- caused the horse to move at a … .
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
canter
/ˈkæntər/
- She set off at a canter.
- We cantered along the beach.
noun
any animal that eats meat
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
carnivore
/ˈkɑːrnɪvɔːr/
There are two main types of carnivores:
- Obligate carnivores: These animals must eat meat to survive. They cannot get the nutrients they need from plants or other non-meat sources. Lions, tigers, wolves, and owls are all examples of obligate carnivores.
- Facultative carnivores: These animals can eat meat and other foods, such as plants or insects. They are not as dependent on meat as obligate carnivores. Bears, raccoons, and foxes are all examples of facultative carnivores.
from Latin carnivorus, from caro, carn- ‘flesh’ + -vorus (from vorare ‘devour’).
verb . noun
- [intransitive] To make a deep, harsh sound, like a frog or raven. It can also be used figuratively to describe speaking in a hoarse or throaty voice
- a rough low sound made in the throat, like the sound made by a frog
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
croak
/krəʊk/
- A frog croaked by the water.
- The frog crawled out with a croak.
verb
(of a female pig) to give birth
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
farrow
/ˈfærəʊ/
The farmer expects the sow to farrow down any day now.
verb
[intransitive, transitive] (of cows, sheep, etc.) to eat grass that is growing in a field
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
graze
/ɡreɪz/
There were cows grazing beside the river.
verb
- [intransitive] (of animals, especially pigs) to make a short, low sound in the throat
- a short, low sound made by a person or an animal (especially a pig)
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
grunt
/ɡrʌnt/
- During intergroup encounters, male chimpanzees with higher testosterone levels were observed to grunt more frequently, suggesting a potential link between this vocalization and dominance displays.
- to give a grunt of effort/pain
verb
(of animals) to spend the winter in a state like deep sleep
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
hibernate
/ˈhaɪbərneɪt/
Brown bears are a well-known example of animals that hibernate.
Species: Ursus arctos (Brown Bear)
Hibernation Period: During the winter months (typically 4-7 months), brown bears enter a state of torpor, a form of hibernation.
Latin word “hibernus,” which means “of winter.”
verb / noun
- (of a bird or an animal) to lose feathers or hair before new feathers or hair grow
- a loss of feathers or hair, especially as a regular feature of the life cycle of a bird or an animal
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
molt
/məʊlt/
(British English moult)
- The adult birds were already molting.
molt something The female hornbill molts her beautiful feathers. - The birds undergo a complete molt after breeding.
noun
- the long deep sound made by a cow
- to make the long deep sound that cows make
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
moo
(plural moos)
/muː/
- Function: Cows “moo” for various reasons, including communication with other cows, expressing emotions, and interacting with humans. Studies suggest moos can convey information about age, sex, dominance hierarchy, and even emotional states like hunger or contentment.
- Vocal Complexity: Research indicates that cow moos have a surprising amount of complexity. They can vary in pitch, length, and even include harmonic overtones. This complexity allows cows to potentially convey more nuanced information than previously thought.
[A study published in the journal “Animal Behaviour” explored cow vocalizations]
verb
[intransitive, transitive] (of a bird or an animal) to lose feathers or hair before new feathers or hair grow
The adult birds were already moulting.
moult something The female hornbill moults her beautiful feathers.
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
moult
/məʊlt/
(US English molt)
verb , noun
- when a horse neighs it makes a long high sound
- a long high sound made by a horse
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
neigh
/neɪ/
- Horses may neigh at different pitches and durations to convey different messages.
- While neighing is the most common vocalization for horses, they also use snorts, whickers, and other sounds to communicate.
nuzzle
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
predatory
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
purr
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
slither
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
snarl
snarl
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
snort
snort
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
squeal
squeal
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
whimper
whimper
C2 Animals. Animal behaviour
