cavy Meaning & Definition
What Does Cavy Mean?
As a noun, cavy means Synonym of domestic guinea pig. It can also mean Any rodent in the Caviidae. As an adjective, it means Alternative form of cavey (“cave-like”).
Word Facts for Cavy
| Part of speech | noun, adjective |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | //ˈkeɪ.vi// |
| Syllables | 1 |
| Synonyms | cavy and lab rat |
| Plural | cavies |
| Comparative / superlative | more cavy, most cavy |
Cavy Definition (Noun)
- Synonym of domestic guinea pig.
- Any rodent in the Caviidae.
Cavy as an Adjective
- Alternative form of cavey (“cave-like”).
Noun
- Alternative spelling of cavvy (group of saddle horses).
Noun
- A tailless rodent of the family Caviidae and the genus Cavia, with short ears and larger than a hamster; the species Cavia porcellus is often kept as a pet.
- A rodent of any of several species within the family Caviidae.
- A living experimental subject.
He became a human guinea pig and was paid by the company.
- A professional company director, without time or real qualifications for the duties.
- A midshipman in the East India service; (by extension) a low-skilled or non-proficient seaman.
Synonyms of Cavy
Cavy synonyms and antonyms →Antonyms of Cavy
No antonyms or near antonyms are listed by the available sources for this entry.
Cavy in a Sentence
He became a human guinea pig and was paid by the company.
Word Forms & Grammar
cavy (plural cavies)
cavy (comparative more cavy, superlative most cavy)
Origin of Cavy
Origin 1: From taxonomic name Cavia + English -y; the genus name Cavia was introduced by Dutch naturalist Willem Piso in his Historia Naturalis Brasiliae (1648), and the initial ⟨c⟩ was supposed to represent [s], but unaware of this, the spelling pronunciation became [k].
Origin 2: Blend of cave + -y.
Origin 3: Variant of cavvy.
Cavy Pronunciation
The standard pronunciation of cavy is //ˈkeɪ.vi//, spoken in 1 syllable.
Common Questions About Cavy
Is cavy a noun or an adjective?
Cavy is mainly used as a noun, but it can also be used as an adjective.
What is another word for cavy?
You can replace cavy with words such as cavy and lab rat. See the full list of cavy synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of cavy?
The plural of cavy is cavies.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of cavy?
The comparative form is more cavy and the superlative form is most cavy.