shrew

• Существительное с двумя различными значениями: маленькое мышеподобное млекопитающее с длинной мордочкой, родственное кротам; или сварливая, ворчливая, злая женщина.

A noun with two distinct meanings: a small, mouselike mammal with a long snout, related to moles; or a scolding, nagging, bad-tempered woman.

1. Small mammalB2formal

   A small, mouse-like mammal with a long pointed snout, belonging to the family Soricidae, related to moles.

   Землеройка

   • A shrew scurried across the forest floor.
   • Shrews have a very high metabolism and must eat frequently.
   • The naturalist identified the tiny creature as a common shrew.

   Synonymsshrewmouse

2. Bad-tempered womanC1informal

   An old-fashioned term for a woman who is argumentative, nagging, or ill-tempered.

   Сварливая женщина

   • In the play, the main character is a notorious shrew.
   • He complained that his neighbor was a real shrew.
   • The term 'shrew' is now considered outdated and offensive.

   Synonymsfishwifegorgonharridannagscoldtermagantvirago