View synonyms for opossum

opossum

[ uh-pos-uhm, pos-uhm ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

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.

opossum

/ əˈpɒsəm /

noun

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 tail Sometimes (informal) shortened topossum
Also called (Austral and NZ)possum any of various similar animals, esp the phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula, of the New Zealand bush

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of opossum¹

First recorded in 1600–10, Americanism; from Virginia Algonquian ( English spelling) opassom, opussum, aposoum (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian (unattested) wa˙p- “white” + (unattested) -aʔθemw- “dog”)

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of opossum¹

C17: from Algonquian aposoum; related to Delaware apässum, literally: white beast

Discover More

Example Sentences

This little animal, the smallest and most beautiful of the opossum tribe, is exceedingly numerous in the vicinity of Port Jackson.

From Project Gutenberg

The parts of generation of the male and female marmose resemble, by their form and their position, those of the opossum.

From Project Gutenberg

Meantime Jacky had killed his opossum and was now following their trail at an easy trot.

From Project Gutenberg

I carried mine in my long, luxuriant hair, which I wore “bun” fashion, held in a net of opossum hair.

From Project Gutenberg

They also busied themselves in making garments of various kinds from opossum skins.

From Project Gutenberg

Oporto opossum block

Browse