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Definition of giant otter
giant otter
Plural:giant otters
giant otter Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
6
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, highly social, and endangered amphibious mammal native to the rivers, streams, and wetlands of South America, distinguished by its elongated body, webbed feet, and a unique white throat patch.
Example
"Conservationists are working to protect the pristine river habitats of the Amazon basin to prevent the giant otter from facing extinction."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
The name combines 'giant', noting its status as the longest member of the weasel family, and 'otter', from the Old English 'otor' (a water animal). Its scientific name is Pteronura brasiliensis.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Giant otter. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/giant otter