n.
Pronunciation: kr ī - ' s ē -t ə d, - ' se-
Function: noun
Etymology: ultimately from New Latin Cricetus, genus name, of Slavic origin; akin to Czech k ř e č ek hamster
Date: 1960
: any of a family (Cricetidae) of small rodents including the hamsters, voles, lemmings, gerbils, and New World rats and mice that are often grouped with the murids
– cricetid adjective