Animals - Verbs Relating to Animals

Here you will learn some English verbs relating to animals, such as "waddle", "gallop", and "peck".

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Animals
to graze [verb]

(of sheep, cows, etc.) to feed on the grass in a field

Ex: Farmers rotate their livestock to different fields to ensure they have fresh areas to graze .
to hunt [verb]

to pursue and capture or kill other animals as a means of securing food or defending territory

Ex: The eagle hunts small mammals from great heights with incredible precision .
to dive [verb]

(of an aircraft or a bird) to descend steeply in the air

Ex:
to molt [verb]

(of animals or birds) to lose hair, feathers, etc. temporarily before they grow back

Ex:

(of some animals or plants) to spend the winter sleeping deeply

Ex: The groundhog 's shadow is said to predict how long it will hibernate .

(of fish, birds, or other animals) to move to different geographic areas according to seasons in order to breed, find food, or escape harsh environmental conditions

Ex: Swans migrate to their breeding grounds in the northern hemisphere during the spring .
to swim [verb]

to move through water by moving parts of the body, typically arms and legs

Ex: While I was swimming at the lake , I found a seashell .
to perch [verb]

(of a bird) to land and rest on something, such as a branch, bar, etc.

Ex: The eagle perched high on the cliff , scanning the valley below .
to hover [verb]

(of a bird, aircraft, etc.) to remain at one place in midair

to change wild animals or plants for human use or cultivation

Ex: Cats were domesticated in ancient Egypt to control pests in grain stores .
to feed [verb]

(of an animal or baby) to take or eat food

Ex: The puppy fed from its dish , wagging its tail happily .
to sing [verb]

(of birds) to make high-pitched and pleasing sounds

Ex: The birds sang joyfully , their songs echoing across the meadow .

to blend in with the surroundings to avoid being seen or detected

Ex: Birds often camouflage their nests to protect their eggs .

to rub gently or caress an animal's fur or hair

Ex: The horse leaned into the rider 's touch as he continued to stroke its mane after the ride .
to peck [verb]

(of a bird) to move the beak in a sudden movement and bite something

Ex: The ducks pecked playfully at each other in the pond .
to stalk [verb]

to move stealthily or quietly towards prey or a target, typically in a deliberate and calculated manner

Ex: The predator silently stalked the wounded animal , waiting for the opportune moment to strike .
to sting [verb]

(of an animal or insect) to pierce the skin of another animal or a human, typically injecting poison, either in self-defense or while preying

Ex: The wasp stung the child when it felt cornered .
to bite [verb]

to cut into flesh, food, etc. using the teeth

Ex: To catch its prey , the predator would often bite with precision .
to soar [verb]

to go higher while flying

Ex: The rocket soared into the sky , leaving a trail of smoke behind it .

to move smoothly and quietly, like a snake

Ex: The river serpent slithered along the muddy bank .
to chase [verb]

to follow a person or thing and see where they go, often for the purpose of catching them

Ex: The dog excitedly chased the ball across the park .
to hop [verb]

(of a bird or an animal) to move forward by jumping on all feet

Ex: The bunny in the garden would often hop around , covering short distances with each leap .

to react or respond with anger, irritation, or indignation, often by stiffening or erecting hairs or bristles on the body

to buck [verb]

(of a horse) to leap or jump with its back arched, typically in an attempt to throw off a rider or in a show of resistance

Ex: She tried to stay calm while the horse bucked during the trail ride .
to spin [verb]

to twist or pull fibers together to form a continuous thread or yarn

Ex:
to swarm [verb]

to gather or travel to a place in large, dense groups

Ex: Locals swarmed to the market for fresh produce on Saturday morning .

to deposit pollen on a plant or flower so that it can produce new seeds or fruit

Ex: Farmers often rely on honeybees to pollinate their crops , ensuring a successful harvest .

(of a bird) to produce a melodious, trilling, or warbling song with a series of varying notes and pitches

to preen [verb]

to groom oneself or another individual by straightening and cleaning the feathers or fur using the beak or tongue

to nest [verb]

to build a nest or live in it

Ex:

to shed or cast off of old skin, scales, feathers, or horns, typically as part of a natural growth

to scent [verb]

to track something using one's sense of smell, typically performed by animals to locate food, identify potential threats, or find mates

Ex: Right now , the dog is scenting the air , searching for the source of the unfamiliar smell .

to search for and consume decaying or dead organic matter as a source of food, often done by animals

to hunt, capture, and eat other animals as a means of survival

Ex: The predatory cat preyed on a mouse that had ventured too far from its burrow .
to rear [verb]

to stand or rise onto the back legs, usually referring to animals

Ex: The goat reared to reach the leaves on the tree .
to paw [verb]

to scrape, strike, or handle something using the paws

Ex: Cubs pawed at the fallen leaves playfully .

to regularly eat a specific type of food to stay alive and grow

Ex:
to beach [verb]

to cause a marine animal to come onto shore or land, either intentionally or unintentionally

to frisk [verb]

to move about in a lively and playful way, usually by jumping or running, as seen in the behavior of young or excited animals

Ex: The excited puppy frisked around its owner , wagging its tail vigorously .

to play or engage in lively, joyful, and often energetic or spontaneous activities

to shake, fluff up, or disarrange the feathers of a bird, either as a sign of agitation, aggression, or fear, or as a part of their natural grooming behavior

to spray [verb]

to expel a fine mist or stream of liquid or other substance from the body, often as a defense mechanism or as a way to mark territory or communicate with other animals

Ex: The rattlesnake sprayed venom from its fangs as a warning to the intruding hiker .
to shy [verb]

to startle or suddenly move away from something or someone, often due to fear, timidity, or a desire to avoid contact or attention

Ex: The horse shied from the loud noise , its ears pricked up in alarm .

to scratch or scrape at a surface with hands or claws

Ex:
to root [verb]

to dig or search for something by using the snout, as done by certain animals like pigs

Ex: The wild boar rooted through the underbrush in search of food .

to dig a hole or tunnel into the ground or other surface to create a space for shelter or habitation

Ex: Certain birds , like kingfishers , burrow into riverbanks to create nesting sites .

to chew food that has been regurgitated from the stomach, as done by certain animals like cows

Ex: You can tell the goat is healthy when it ruminates regularly .

(of a horse, etc.) to ride as fast as possible

to trot [verb]

(of a horse or other animals) to move at a speed faster than a walk and slower than a canter

Ex: The dog eagerly trotted beside its owner during their morning walk in the park .

to eat vegetation such as young shoots or foliage in a meadow, pasture, or woodland

Ex: Sheep browse grass and clover in the rolling pasture .
to lope [verb]

to bound or run with long, easy strides, often seen in animals such as horses, wolves, or gazelles

to strut [verb]

to walk with a confident and often arrogant gait

Ex: The rooster struts around the yard , puffing its chest .
to leap [verb]

to jump very high or over a long distance

Ex: The mountain goat effortlessly leaped between rocky ledges as it navigated the steep mountain terrain .
to flit [verb]

to move quickly and lightly from somewhere or something to another

Ex:
to glide [verb]

to move smoothly and effortlessly through the air or on a surface with little or no propulsion

Ex: The figure skater glided gracefully across the frozen lake .

to move or flap rapidly and lightly, typically referring to the motion of wings, leaves, or other flexible objects

Ex: Her heart seemed to flutter with excitement as she opened the letter .

to run or move quickly and playfully with small, light steps

Ex: The baby deer scampered through the meadow , enjoying the freedom of open space .
to prowl [verb]

to move stealthily and with intent, especially by a predatory animal

to bound [verb]

to leap or spring forward with energy and enthusiasm, often with all feet leaving the ground simultaneously

Ex: The young gazelle bounded across the savanna , keeping pace with its herd in a playful manner .
to amble [verb]

to walk at a slow and leisurely pace, usually without any particular purpose or urgency

Ex: As the sun set , residents of the seaside village would often amble along the beach .
to swoop [verb]

to quickly and unexpectedly attack a group or place to surround and capture them

Ex: Government forces launched a surprise attack , swooping on a rebel hideout deep in the jungle

to walk with short, clumsy steps and a swaying motion from side to side, typically as a result of being overweight or having short legs

Ex: The toddler waddled around the room , giggling with delight at his newfound ability to walk .

to attack violently and suddenly in a battle

Ex: The knights mounted their horses and prepared to charge the enemy 's stronghold .
to fly [verb]

to move or travel through the air

Ex: I love to watch hot air balloons fly gracefully in the air .
to crawl [verb]

to move slowly with the body near the ground or on the hands and knees

Ex: In the dense underbrush , the jungle explorer needed to crawl to avoid entangling vines and thick foliage .

to move in a slow, heavy, and awkward manner, often due to the size or weight of the body or object being carried

to swing [verb]

to move or make something move from one side to another while suspended

Ex: