Illustration of pika
: any of various short-eared small lagomorph mammals (family Ochotonidae) of rocky uplands of Asia and western North America with relatively short hind legs
called also coney, rock rabbit
Examples of pika in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fortunately, lower-altitude pikas may be in luck as well.
—
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Pikas living at higher elevations, such as the large-eared pika, could defend against this because of variation in certain genes.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Getty Images/iStockphoto Authorities have also described moose, salmon, snowshoe hares, American pikas, sea turtles, puffins, Alaskan caribou, piping plovers, polar bears and crocodiles as being at risk from climate change.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023
The trail bisected one rock pile occupied by a family of pika, pudgy rabbit relatives who vocalized like squeaky toys.
—Elaine Glusac, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2023
From tiny American pikas to towering moose, all park wildlife deserves respect.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2023
Because of mini bears—the mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, pikas, raccoons, porcupines, gray jays, and other small animals that reside in popular front-country and backcountry campsites.
—Andrew Skurka, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2019
The eradication policy was introduced in 2000 and calls for the culling of two mountain-dwelling herbivores, the plateau pika and the zokor.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 24 May 2023
But the cooler climes in high altitudes are growing warmer, and that’s left the pika’s vulnerable to overheating in summer.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 30 Aug. 2017
Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Pikas living at higher elevations, such as the large-eared pika, could defend against this because of variation in certain genes.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 6 Feb. 2024
Getty Images/iStockphoto Authorities have also described moose, salmon, snowshoe hares, American pikas, sea turtles, puffins, Alaskan caribou, piping plovers, polar bears and crocodiles as being at risk from climate change.
—Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 29 Nov. 2023
The trail bisected one rock pile occupied by a family of pika, pudgy rabbit relatives who vocalized like squeaky toys.
—Elaine Glusac, New York Times, 7 Aug. 2023
From tiny American pikas to towering moose, all park wildlife deserves respect.
—Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 24 Mar. 2023
Because of mini bears—the mice, rats, squirrels, rabbits, marmots, pikas, raccoons, porcupines, gray jays, and other small animals that reside in popular front-country and backcountry campsites.
—Andrew Skurka, Outside Online, 26 Jan. 2019
The eradication policy was introduced in 2000 and calls for the culling of two mountain-dwelling herbivores, the plateau pika and the zokor.
—Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 24 May 2023
But the cooler climes in high altitudes are growing warmer, and that’s left the pika’s vulnerable to overheating in summer.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 30 Aug. 2017
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pika.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
perhaps from Evenki (Tungusic language of Siberia)
First Known Use
1827, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near pika
Cite this Entry
“Pika.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pika. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
pika
noun
pi·ka
ˈpē-kə 
: any of various small short-eared mammals of rocky uplands of Asia and western North America that are related to the rabbits
More from Merriam-Webster on pika
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about pika
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