Definition

1. Noun:
   • Growth of hair, wool, or fur covering the body of an animal: The pelage is the collective coat of hair, fur, or wool that provides insulation, camouflage, or protection for a mammal.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The polar bear's thick white pelage provides both warmth and camouflage in the Arctic snow.
  • Biologists study the seasonal changes in an animal's pelage to understand its adaptation to the environment.

Advanced Usage

• In Zoology and Biology: The term "pelage" is used in scientific contexts to describe the characteristics, color, texture, and patterns of an animal's coat.
  • The study focused on the density and coloration of the fox's winter pelage.

Variants and Related Words

• Coat (n): A more common term for the fur or hair covering an animal's body.
• Fur (n): The thick hair covering the skin of many mammals, especially when fine and soft.
• Wool (n): The soft, curly hair forming the coat of sheep and some other animals.

Synonyms

• Fur
• Coat
• Fleece (specifically for sheep or similar animals)
• Hide (when referring to the skin with the hair or fur still attached)

Related Phrases

• Winter pelage: Refers to an animal's thicker, often differently colored, coat grown for the winter season.
  • The hare's winter pelage is white to blend with the snow.
• Summer pelage: Refers to the thinner, often darker, coat an animal has during the summer months.

Noun

1. growth of hair or wool or fur covering the body of an animal