opossum
[ uh-pos-uh m, pos-uh m ]
/ əˈpɒs əm, ˈpɒs əm /
noun, plural o·pos·sums, (especially collectively) o·pos·sum.
a prehensile-tailed marsupial, Didelphis virginiana, of the eastern U.S., the female having an abdominal pouch in which its young are carried: noted for the habit of feigning death when in danger.
any of various animals of related genera.
RELATED CONTENT
What’s The Difference Between “Possum” And “Opossum”?The most famous marsupial of the moment is Heidi, the cross-eyed opossum from Germany. Heidi has made headlines across the globe and has over 200,000 fans on Facebook. Enough with the cuteness, and on to a great story of language: What is the difference between possum and opossum? The answer is more complex and interesting than you might think. The opossum received its name in the …
Nearby words
opium wars, opiumism, opm, opole, oporto, opossum, opossum block, opossum shrimp, opotherapy, opp., oppenheim
Compare possum.
Origin of opossum
1600–10, Americanism; < Virginia Algonquian (E spelling) opassom, opussum, aposoum (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian *wa˙p- white + *-aʔθemw- dog)
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for opossum
British Dictionary definitions for opossum
opossum
/ (əˈpɒsəm) /
noun plural -sums or -sum
any thick-furred marsupial, esp Didelphis marsupialis (common opossum), of the family Didelphidae of S North, Central, and South America, having an elongated snout and a hairless prehensile tailSometimes (informal) shortened to: possum
Also called (Austral and NZ): possum any of various similar animals, esp the phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula, of the New Zealand bush
Word Origin for opossum
C17: from Algonquian aposoum; related to Delaware apässum, literally: white beast
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