possum
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pos·sum
(pŏs′əm)n.
1. Chiefly Southern US An opossum. See Note at tater.
2. Any of several nocturnal arboreal marsupials of the suborder Phalangeriformes, native to Australia and adjacent islands and introduced elsewhere.
[Short for opossum.]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
possum
(ˈpɒsəm)n
1. (Animals) an informal name for opossum1
2. (Animals) Also called: phalanger Austral and NZ any of various Australasian arboreal marsupials, such as Trichosurus vulpecula (brush-tailed phalanger), having dense fur and a long tail: family Phalangeridae
3. play possum to pretend to be dead, ignorant, asleep, etc, in order to deceive an opponent
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pos•sum
(ˈpɒs əm)n., pl. -sums, (esp. collectively) -sum.
1. opossum.
2. any of many marsupials of the families Phalangeridae, Petauridae, and Burramidae, of Australia and neighboring islands.
Idioms: play possum, to feign sleep or death.
[1725–35]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | ![]() marsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried Didelphidae, family Didelphidae - opossums common opossum, Didelphis marsupialis, Didelphis virginiana - omnivorous opossum of the eastern United States; noted for feigning death when in danger; esteemed as food in some areas; considered same species as the crab-eating opossum of South America crab-eating opossum - South American opossum |
2. | ![]() marsupial, pouched mammal - mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried family Phalangeridae, Phalangeridae - phalangers; koalas cuscus - woolly-haired monkey-like arboreal marsupial of New Guinea and northern Australia brush-tailed phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula - bushy-tailed phalanger flying opossum, flying phalanger, flying squirrel - nocturnal phalangers that move with gliding leaps using parachute-like folds of skin along the sides of the body kangaroo bear, koala, koala bear, native bear, Phascolarctos cinereus - sluggish tailless Australian arboreal marsupial with grey furry ears and coat; feeds on eucalyptus leaves and bark |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
Translations
تَظاهُر بالجَهْل، تَماوُت
vačice
opossumpungrotte
OpossumPossum
apsimesti miegančiamapsimesti negyvam
keseli sıçan
possum
[ˈpɒsəm] N (US) → zarigüeya fto play possum (= sleeping) → fingir estar dormido; (= dead) → hacerse el muerto
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
possum
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
possum
(ˈposəm) noun (American) opossum.
play possum to pretend to be dead or asleep.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.