noun
rodents
Zoological term for the order Rodentia.
げっ歯類は前歯が伸び続ける。
Rodents' front teeth grow continuously.
ハムスターはげっ歯類の一種です。
Hamsters are a type of rodent.
Compound of げっ (啮, 'to gnaw') + 歯 (し, 'tooth') + 類 (るい, 'category'). The spelling げっ is a simplified form of 齧.