lemming
A small arctic and subarctic rodent of the tribes Lemmini, Dicrostonychini and LaguriniA small arctic and subarctic rodent of the tribes Lemmini, Dicrostonychini and Lagurini.
» Owls feed on lemmings.
Совы питаются леммингами.
Meaning
2 sensesA small arctic and subarctic rodent of the tribes Lemmini, Dicrostonychini and Lagurini.
Lemming
ле́ммингlémming, пестру́шкаpestrúška
(figuratively)Any member of a group given to conformity or groupthink, especially a group poised to follow a leader off a cliff.
- any of various short-tailed furry-footed rodents of circumpolar distribution
Examples
2 sentencesOwls feed on lemmings.
ruСовы питаются леммингами.
A million lemmings can't be wrong.
Мільйон лемінгів не помиляються.
ruМиллион леммингов не может ошибаться.
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
From Danish and Norwegian lemming, from Old Norse lómundr, læmingi, læmingr (“lemming”), pFrom Danish and Norwegian lemming, from Old Norse lómundr, læmingi, læmingr (“lemming”), perhaps from Sami luomek. Sense 2 derives from a longstanding myth that they exhibit so much herd mentality that populations jump off cliffs to their deaths together.
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