chinchilla

• Petit rongeur originaire des Andes, connu pour sa fourrure douce et gris perle; le terme désigne aussi cette fourrure très précieuse ou un tissu sergé dense en laine et coton.

A small rodent native to the Andes, known for its soft, pearly grey fur, which is also used to refer to the expensive fur itself or a thick twilled fabric made of wool and cotton.

1. Small rodentB1formal

   A small, squirrel-like rodent native to the Andes mountains, known for its very soft, dense, pearly grey fur, often kept as a pet or bred for its pelt.

   chinchilla

   • The chinchilla is a nocturnal animal that lives in rocky crevices.
   • She bought a pair of chinchillas as pets for her children.
   • Chinchillas require dust baths to keep their fur clean and healthy.

2. Expensive furB2formal

   The highly valued, silvery grey fur of the chinchilla rodent, used in making luxury coats and other garments.

   Fourrure de chinchilla

   • The coat was made of the finest chinchilla fur.
   • Chinchilla fur is known for being incredibly soft and lightweight.
   • The demand for chinchilla fur has led to extensive breeding programs.

3. Wool and cotton fabricC1formal

   A thick, twilled fabric woven from a blend of wool and cotton, designed to imitate the texture of chinchilla fur.

   Chinchilla (tissu)

   • The winter coat was made of a warm chinchilla fabric.
   • He chose a suit made from a heavy chinchilla cloth for the cold weather.
   • The tailor recommended chinchilla fabric for its durability and warmth.