mammals
UK[ˈmæməlz]US[ˈmæməlz]
n
A warm-blooded animal of a class that is distinguished by the possession of hair or fur, the secretion of milk by females for the nourishment of the young, and (typically) the birth of live young.
Morpheme Breakdown
mammal
s
mammal
mammary
s
plural suffix
Etymology
The word 'mammal' has its roots in the nourishment of the young. It originates from the Latin word mamma, meaning "breast" or "teat," a term itself likely derived from a Proto-Indo-European nursery word for a mother. In the 18th century, the Swedish naturalist Carl Linnaeus formally established the class name Mammalia for this group of animals, defining them by the key characteristic of females secreting milk from mammary glands. The modern term 'mammals' thus directly links the biological class to this fundamental, defining feature of maternal care.
Analysis
Structure: mammal (mammary) + s (plural suffix)
mammal: From Modern Latin Mammalia, the class name, from Late Latin mammalis ("of the breast"), from Latin mamma ("breast, teat"). Origin: Latin.
s: A plural suffix in English. Origin: Old English.
Examples
Whales and dolphins are marine mammals that breathe air.
The conservation area provides a safe habitat for various mammals, including deer and foxes.
One distinguishing feature of mammals is that they have hair or fur at some stage of their life.