Chipmunks: meaning, definitions and examples

Commonly referred to small, burrowing rodents with characteristic stripes on their backs. They are often found in North America and are known for their cheek pouches used to store food. Suitable for general reference when talking about these animals in a casual or scientific sense.

• The children were excited to see the chipmunks gathering nuts in the park.
• Chipmunks can store a lot of food in their cheek pouches.

Best used for referring explicitly to squirrels that live primarily on or in the ground, unlike their tree-dwelling counterparts. Often associated with species found in prairies and grasslands, and sometimes seen as pests in farming areas.

• Farmers often have to deal with ground squirrels digging burrows in their fields.
• Ground squirrels are known to live in colonies and can be quite social.

This term is less common but specifically indicates a type of squirrel with visible stripes on its body. Can be used for any striped rodent but is less precise than 'chipmunks' or 'ground squirrel'.

• The striped squirrel dashed quickly across the forest floor.
• I managed to take a photo of a striped squirrel near our campsite.

Refers specifically to those species of squirrels that mainly inhabit trees. These are the typical bushy-tailed squirrels commonly seen leaping from branch to branch in parks and forests.

• Tree squirrels are fascinating to watch as they build their nests high in the trees.
• The tree squirrel quickly climbed up the oak tree when it sensed danger.