1. Burrowing rodent of the family Geomyidae having large external cheek pouches; of Central America and southwestern North America
   "The pocket gopher's extensive tunnels aerated the soil";
   - pocket gopher, pouched rat
    
2. Any of various terrestrial burrowing rodents of Old and New Worlds; often destroy crops
   "The farmer struggled to protect his fields from gophers";
   - ground squirrel, spermophile
    
3. Burrowing edible land tortoise of southeastern North America
   "The gopher tortoise's burrow provides shelter for many other species";
   - gopher tortoise, gopher turtle, Gopherus polyphemus
    
4. A zealously energetic person (especially a salesman)
   "The new gopher in the sales department was always eager to take on extra tasks";
   - gofer
    
5. [informal] An employee whose duties include running errands and doing minor tasks
   "The intern started as a gopher, fetching coffee and making copies";
   - gofer [informal]

1. A native or resident of Minnesota
   - Minnesotan

Sounds like: g

Derived forms: gophers

Type of: American, busy bee [informal], eager beaver [informal], employe [US], employee, live wire [informal], pocket rat, sharpy [informal], squirrel, tortoise

Part of: Citellus, family Geomyidae, genus Citellus, genus Gopherus, genus Spermophilus, Geomyidae, Gopherus, Spermophilus

Encyclopedia: Gopher, Oregon