angora rabbit: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowSpecialized, Everyday (in craft/farming contexts)
Quick answer
What does “angora rabbit” mean?
A breed of domestic rabbit kept primarily for its long, soft wool (angora fibre).
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A breed of domestic rabbit kept primarily for its long, soft wool (angora fibre).
Any rabbit belonging to one of several long-haired breeds (e.g., English, French, Giant) whose wool is harvested by shearing or plucking. The term can also refer, more generally, to a source of luxurious, soft fibre.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Minor potential differences in farming/rabbit-keeping terminology (e.g., 'plucking' vs. 'harvesting' the wool).
Connotations
Both variants carry the same connotations of softness, luxury, and specialist animal husbandry.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in general discourse. Slightly higher frequency in UK due to historical knitting/craft associations.
Grammar
How to Use “angora rabbit” in a Sentence
keep/raise an angora rabbitshear the angora rabbityarn from angora rabbit woolbreed of angora rabbitVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “angora rabbit” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- They angora-rabbit farm on a small scale.
American English
- She's planning to angora-rabbit for a living.
adjective
British English
- The angora-rabbit industry is niche.
- It's an angora-rabbit wool blend.
American English
- He runs an angora-rabbit operation.
- She bought angora-rabbit fibre.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used in textile, fashion, and specialty farming industries (e.g., 'Our angora rabbit wool supply chain is sustainable.').
Academic
Appears in animal husbandry, textile science, and agricultural history papers.
Everyday
Used by crafters, pet owners, and in general descriptions (e.g., 'She has a pet angora rabbit.').
Technical
Specific to rabbit breeds, fibre classification, and animal grooming protocols.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “angora rabbit”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “angora rabbit”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “angora rabbit”
- Misspelling as 'angorra rabbit' or 'angoria rabbit'.
- Using 'angora' as a standalone synonym for the rabbit without context (e.g., 'I have an angora' – could mean a goat or sweater).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. 'Angora' refers to the long, soft hair. Angora rabbits and Angora cats are different species, both known for long fur, but the fibre comes from the rabbit.
The wool is harvested by gently shearing the rabbit with special scissors or by carefully plucking the loose moulting hair. Shearing is more common for animal welfare.
Yes, but they require significant grooming to prevent their long fur from matting. They are gentle but need more care than short-haired breeds.
Standalone 'angora' typically refers to the yarn or fibre (e.g., an angora sweater). 'Angora rabbit' specifically denotes the animal that produces that fibre.
A breed of domestic rabbit kept primarily for its long, soft wool (angora fibre).
Angora rabbit is usually specialized, everyday (in craft/farming contexts) in register.
Angora rabbit: in British English it is pronounced /æŋˈɡɔːrə ˈræbɪt/, and in American English it is pronounced /æŋˈɡɔːrə ˈræbɪt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine an ANGEL wearing a GORA (a type of hat) made from a RABBIT's fur = ANGORA RABBIT.
Conceptual Metaphor
LUXURY IS SOFTNESS, CRAFT IS ANIMAL HUSBANDRY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary product for which angora rabbits are kept?