koala

[ koh-ah-luh ]

/ koʊˈɑ lə /

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See synonyms for koala on Thesaurus.com

Definition of koala

noun

a sluggish, tailless, gray, furry, arboreal marsupial, Phascolarctos cinereus, of Australia.

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Origin of koala

1800–10; erroneous spelling for earlier koola(h) (now obsolete) <Dharuk gú-la

Words nearby koala

knurly, Knussen, Knut, KO, koa, koala, koan, koap, kob, Kobarid, Kobe

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use koala in a sentence

In Australia, three honeyeater bird species steal fur from koalas.
Scientists have a new word for birds stealing animal hair|Jaime Chambers|August 12, 2021|Science News
I planned to have the koala installed lower than other sculptures, because I wanted to create a visual — and almost physical — contact with the public.
Finding these artful animals around Capitol Hill is as easy as ABC|Fritz Hahn|July 22, 2021|Washington Post
While kangaroos and koalas are more well-known, researchers who study marsupials often use opossums in lab experiments, since they’re smaller and easier to care for.
An albino opossum proves CRISPR works for marsupials, too|Casey Crownhart|July 21, 2021|MIT Technology Review
Echidna Walkabout tours offer one- to three-day Koala Recovery Experience trips to habitats west of Melbourne, where participants plant eucalyptus trees and learn about the importance of koalas to the ecosystem.
Post-fire Australia will provide travelers with more opportunities for ‘restorative tourism’|Elizabeth Heath|March 18, 2021|Washington Post

Besides the impact on koalas, the WWF Australia report suggests that as many as 3 billion individual mammals, birds, reptiles and frogs died or were displaced during the crisis.
A year after Australia’s wildfires, extinction threatens hundreds of species|John Pickrell|March 9, 2021|Science News
In the koala (Australian native bear), a vegetable-feeding marsupial, it is more than thrice the size of the body.
Degeneracy|Eugene S. Talbot
A terrible hullabaloo between a pair of Opossums up a neighbouring gum tree arrested the attention of both Dot and the Koala.
Dot and the Kangaroo|Ethel C. Pedley
The Koala saw that Dot was proud, but as it didn't see any reason why she should be, it was not a bit afraid of her.
Dot and the Kangaroo|Ethel C. Pedley
It then got the Koala to look into the mirror also, and said it would get an idea into its little empty head if it did.
Dot and the Kangaroo|Ethel C. Pedley
Another pouched animal is the Koala, or Ashy Koala as it is called.
Quadrupeds, What They Are and Where Found|Mayne Reid

British Dictionary definitions for koala

koala

koala bear

/ (kəʊˈɑːlə) /

noun

a slow-moving Australian arboreal marsupial, Phascolarctus cinereus, having dense greyish fur and feeding on eucalyptus leaves and barkAlso called (Austral): native bear

Word Origin for koala

from a native Australian language

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

koala

Definition of koala

Origin of koala

Words nearby koala

Words related to koala

How to use koala in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for koala

koala bear

Word Origin for koala