fossorial

C2 Topic:Animals
US /fɑˈsɔriəl/ UK /fɒˈsɔːriəl/
adj

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    adapted for digging or for living chiefly underground

    The mole's broad forefeet are fossorial limbs specialized for tunnelling.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
1 adj · adapted for digging or for... burrowingdigging
Opposites
arborealsurface-dwelling
Word family
Related forms burrowsubterraneanfossor

Etymology

From Medieval Latin fossorius ("used for digging"), from Latin fossor ("digger"), from fodere ("to dig"). Zoology applies it to limbs, body forms, and animals specialized for excavation or underground life.

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