am·phib·ian [amphibianamphibians] BrE [æmˈfɪbiən] NAmE [æmˈfɪbiən] noun any animal that can live both on land and in water. Amphibians have cold blood and skin without ↑scales. Frogs, ↑toads and ↑newts are all amphibians. compare ↑reptile
Word Origin: mid 17th cent. (in the sense ‘having two modes of existence or of doubtful nature’): from modern Latin amphibium ‘an amphibian’, from Greek amphibion (noun use of amphibios ‘living both in water and on land’, from amphi ‘both’ + bios ‘life’).
Collocations: The living world Animals animals mate/breed/reproduce/feed (on sth) fish/amphibians swim/spawn (= lay eggs) birds fly/migrate/nest/sing insects crawl/fly/bite/sting insects/bees/locusts swarm bees collect/gather nectar/pollen spiders spin/weave a web snakes/lizards shed their skins bears/hedgehogs/frogs hibernate insect larvae grow/develop/pupate an egg/a chick/a larva hatches attract/find/choose a mate produce/release eggs/sperm lay/fertilize/incubate/hatch eggs inhabit a forest/a reef/the coast mark/enter/defend (a) territory stalk/hunt/capture/catch/kill prey Plants and fungi trees/plants grow/bloom/blossom/flower a seed germinates/sprouts leaves/buds/roots/shoots appear/develop/form flower buds swell/open a fungus grows/spreads/colonizes sth pollinate/fertilize a flower/plant produce/release/spread/disperse pollen/seeds/spores produce/bear fruit develop/grow/form roots/shoots/leaves provide/supply/absorb/extract/release nutrients perform/increase/reduce photosynthesis Bacteria and viruses bacteria/microbes/viruses grow/spread/multiply bacteria/microbes live/thrive in/on sth bacteria/microbes/viruses evolve/colonize sth/cause disease bacteria break sth down/convert sth (into sth) a virus enters/invades sth/the body a virus mutates/evolves/replicates (itself) be infected with/contaminated with/exposed to a new strain of a virus/drug-resistant bacteria contain/carry/harbour (especially US) harbor bacteria/a virus kill/destroy/eliminate harmful/deadly bacteria
