civ·et (s v t)n. 1. Any of various carnivorous catlike mammals of the family Viverridae of Africa and Asia, having anal scent glands that secrete a fluid with a musky odor. Also called civet cat. 2. The thick yellowish musky fluid secreted by one of these mammals, used in the manufacture of perfumes. 3. The fur of one of these mammals. [French civette, from Old French, from Catalan civetta, from Medieval Latin zibethus, from Arabic zab  d, civet perfume.] |
civet [ˈsɪvɪt]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any catlike viverrine mammal of the genus Viverra and related genera, of Africa and S Asia, typically having blotched or spotted fur and secreting a powerfully smelling fluid from anal glands
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biochemistry) the yellowish fatty secretion of such an animal, used as a fixative in the manufacture of perfumes
3. (Clothing, Personal Arts & Crafts / Textiles) the fur of such an animal
4. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) short for palm civet
[from Old French civette, from Italian zibetto, from Arabic zabād civet perfume]
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  civet - cat-like mammal typically secreting musk used in perfumesviverrine, viverrine mammal - small cat-like predatory mammals of warmer parts of the Old World large civet, Viverra zibetha - common civet of India and southeast Asia Arctictis bintourong, bearcat, binturong - arboreal civet of Asia having a long prehensile tail and shaggy black hair Cryptoprocta, genus Cryptoprocta - large primitive cat-like carnivores inhabiting forests of Madagascar fanaloka, Fossa fossa - civet of Madagascar banded palm civet, Hemigalus hardwickii - an East Indian civet palm cat, palm civet - spotted or striped arboreal civet of southeast Asia and East Indies |
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