lemming
English
Etymology
From (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Norwegian, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Old Norse lómundr (“lemming”), perhaps from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Lua error in Module:parameters at line 239: Parameter 1 should be a valid language code; the value "smi" is not valid. See WT:LOL. luomek
Pronunciation
- Lua error in Module:parameters at line 239: Parameter 1 should be a valid language or etymology language code; the value "UK" is not valid. See WT:LOL and WT:LOL/E. IPA(key): /lɛm.ɪŋ/
- Rhymes: -ɛmɪŋ
Noun
lemming (plural lemmings)
- A small Arctic and Subarctic rodent from any of six genera of similar rodents.
- 1876, Alfred Russel Wallace, The Geographical Distribution of Animals, chapter 2, page 18:
- The well-known lemmings, in severe winters, at long intervals, move down from the mountains of Scandinavia in immense numbers, crossing lakes and rivers, eating their way through haystacks, and surmounting every obstacle till they reach the sea, whence very few return.
- Lua error in Module:quote at line 1185: URL not allowed to contain a space, but saw |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EcK4AgAAQBAJ&pg=PA61 GB
- (figuratively) Any member of a group given to conformity or groupthink, especially a group poised to follow a leader off a cliff.
- 2004, Ilse Hobbs, Jan Havenga, A Practical Guide to Strategy, →ISBN, page 127:
- Lemmings are strongly cohesive, but could be, in organisational terms, highly destructive for the business.
Derived terms
- bog lemmings, Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template. spp.
- collared lemming(Please check if this is already defined at target. Replace
{{vern}}
with a regular link if already defined. Add novern=1 if not defined.)s, Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template. spp. - steppe lemming(Please check if this is already defined at target. Replace
{{vern}}
with a regular link if already defined. Add novern=1 if not defined.), Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template. - true lemmings, Lemmus spp.
- wood lemming, Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template.
- yellow steppe lemmings, Lua error in Module:taxlink at line 68: Parameter "noshow" is not used by this template. spp.
Translations
rodent
|
member of a group given to conformity or groupthink
|
Dutch
Pronunciation
audio: (file)
Noun
lemming m (plural lemmingen or lemmings, diminutive lemminkje n)
- lemming (rodent)
Anagrams
French
Pronunciation
Noun
lemming m (plural lemmings)
Further reading
- “lemming”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.
Portuguese
Noun
lemming m (plural s)
- Alternative form of lémingue
Spanish
Noun
lemming m (plural lemmings)
- lemming (rodent)
Categories:
- English terms derived from Norwegian
- English terms derived from Old Norse
- English 2-syllable words
- English terms with IPA pronunciation
- Rhymes:English/ɛmɪŋ
- English lemmas
- English nouns
- English countable nouns
- English terms with quotations
- en:Cricetids
- Dutch terms with audio links
- Dutch lemmas
- Dutch nouns
- Dutch nouns with plural in -en
- Dutch nouns with plural in -s
- Dutch masculine nouns
- nl:Rodents
- French 2-syllable words
- French terms with IPA pronunciation
- French lemmas
- French nouns
- French countable nouns
- French masculine nouns
- fr:Rodents
- Portuguese lemmas
- Portuguese nouns
- Portuguese countable nouns
- Portuguese masculine nouns
- Spanish lemmas
- Spanish nouns
- Spanish countable nouns
- Spanish masculine nouns
- es:Rodents