rat

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rat

any of numerous long-tailed murine rodents, esp of the genus Rattus, that are similar to but larger than mice and are now distributed all over the world

Collins Discovery Encyclopedia, 1st edition © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

Rat

(religion, spiritualism, and occult)

The Rat is one of the 12 animals of the Chinese zodiac. It refers to one of the 12 earthly branches, which are used in Chinese astrology, together with the 10 heavenly stems. Such a branch designates one day every 12 days: the days are named according to a sexagesimal (60) cycle, made of 10 series of 12 branches.

A Rat is jovial (perhaps too much), pleasant, and sociable; with a sense of justice, the Rat tends to want to convince others. On the negative side, he is suspicious, crafty, and may hold grudges if people are disrespectful to him. With a keen interest in everything, he is hardworking, ambitious, and conscientious. He loves money: he knows how to win it, and above all, he knows how to keep it, even if he is generous with those close to him. Easy to get along with, he is persuasive and a successful businessman. Not really faithful, he is nevertheless eager for tenderness.

—Michele Delemme

What does it mean when you dream about a rat?

Rats are often associated with the decaying conditions of poverty (“rat trap”) or illness. To betray someone is to “rat” on them. Dreams of rats can also indicate a need to take some time out from the “rat race.” (See also Mouse, Rodent).

rat

[rat]

(vertebrate zoology)

The name applied to over 650 species of mammals in several families of the order Rodentia; they differ from mice in being larger and in having teeth modified for gnawing.

RAT

[rat]

(ordnance)

rocket-assisted torpedo

Rats

(dreams)

They are unpleasant and symbolize danger, poverty, filth, and illness. Your unconscious mind may be bringing up unpleasant images due to a disturbance in daily life. The dream’s purpose is to make you aware of negative feelings that may encourage you to directly deal with the negativity in your life. Dreaming about rats leaves the dreamer feeling apprehensive and disgusted. Attempt to connect these feelings with those things that produce this type of anxiety during the day.

References in classic literature ?

After that, there were no more rats for a long time at Tabitha Twitchit's.

They hang up the rats' tails in a row or the barn door, to show how many they have caught--dozens and dozens of them.

Mother, Mother," said Moppet, "there's been an old woman rat in the kitchen, and she's stolen some of the dough!"

Mother, Mother, there has been an old man rat in the dairy--a dreadful 'normous big rat, Mother; and he's stolen a pat of butter and the rolling-pin."

Opposite to him--as far away as he could sit--was an enormous rat.

"What do you mean by tumbling into my bed all covered with smuts?" said the rat, chattering his teeth.

Anna Maria!" squeaked the rat. There was a pattering noise and an old woman rat poked her head round a rafter.

But Tom Kitten has always been afraid of a rat; he never durst face anything that is bigger than--

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The cat and the rat have been enemies since the world began.

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In the winter months when tea picking slumbers, the Adivasis go to rice paddies to trap rats for the market.

The northeastern Indian market where fresh rat fetches top price

Researchers monitored the behavior and movement of microchipped rats in the presence of cats living in the same area.

Cats vs. Rats, Rats Are Winning: Feral cats are not efficient predators of New York City's rats

operation combat against the exotic species of rats that had killed eight children and injured over 400 persons so far in the city.

Operation Combat initiated against big rats in Peshawar

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