hedgehog
Fetched 2026-10-26 (cache).
Synonyms: hedgehop, hedge hog, hedge-hog, hedgerow, hedgehogs, hedgepig, hedgehops
Antonyms: hedgehop, hedge hog, hedge-hog, hedgerow, hedgehogs, hedgepig, hedgehops
Related words from Datamuse; suggestions, not definitions.
Noun
- {{senseid|en|Q6120}}A small [[mammal]] of the subfamily {{taxfmt|Erinaceinae|subfamily}}, characterized by their [[spiny]] back and often by the habit of rolling up into a ball when attacked, native to [[Afro-Eurasia]].
- {{lb|en|US}} Any of several spiny mammals, such as the porcupine, that are similar to the hedgehog.
- {{lb|en|military}} {{ellipsis of|en|Czech hedgehog|t=an [[antitank]] [[obstacle]] constructed from three [[steel]] [[rail]]s}}.
- {{lb|en|informal|military|historical}} A [[spigot]] [[mortar]]-type of [[depth charge]] weapon from [[World War II]] that simultaneously fires a number of explosives into the water to create a pattern of underwater [[explosion]]s intended to attack submerged [[submarine]]s. {{C|en|World War II}}
- {{lb|en|Australia}} A type of chocolate cake (or [[slice]]), somewhat similar to an American [[brownie]].
- A form of dredging machine.
- Certain [[flowering plant]]s with parts resembling a member of family {{taxfmt|Erinaceidae|family}}
- The [[edible]] [[fungus]] {{taxfmt|Hydnum repandum|species}}.
- A kind of [[electrical]] [[transformer]] with open magnetic circuit, the ends of the iron wire core being turned outward and presenting a bristling appearance.
- A way of serving [[food]] at a [[party]], consisting of a half [[melon]] or [[potato]] etc. with individual [[cocktail stick]]s of [[cheese]] and [[pineapple]] stuck into it.
- {{lb|en|differential geometry}} A type of [[plane curve]]; see {{w|Hedgehog (geometry)}}. {{C|en|Curves}}
- {{lb|en|chiefly|philosophy}} Someone who has one big [[overarching]] personal [[philosophy]] or [[worldview]].
Verb
- {{lb|en|military}} To make use of a hedgehog [[barricade]] as a [[defensive]] [[maneuver]].
- To array with [[spiky]] [[projection]]s like the [[quill]]s of a hedgehog.
- {{lb|en|ambitransitive}} To [[curl up]] into a [[defensive]] ball.
Source: Wiktionary · CC BY-SA 4.0 (Wiktionary dump) · cached copy, not a rewrite.