A squirrel is a small, quick mammal famous for its bushy tail and acrobatic tree-climbing abilities. Squirrels spend their days gathering nuts, seeds, and acorns, which they bury in dozens of hiding spots to eat later. They have sharp claws and powerful hind legs that let them leap between branches, scamper up tree trunks, and even run along power lines with remarkable balance.

These clever animals are known for their energy and constant motion. Watch a squirrel in a park: it darts across the grass, sits up on its haunches to nibble food held in its tiny paws, then suddenly freezes and looks around before racing up a tree in a zigzag pattern. That jerky, unpredictable movement is so distinctive that we use squirrel as a verb meaning to hide something away for later, like when you squirrel away part of your allowance for a big purchase.

Squirrels sometimes forget where they buried their food, and those forgotten nuts often grow into new trees. Without meaning to, squirrels help plant forests.

The word can also describe someone who can't stay focused, jumping from one thing to another like a squirrel leaping between branches. If your mind keeps bouncing to different thoughts when you're trying to concentrate, you might be squirreling around instead of staying on task.