o·pos·sum

(ə-pŏs′əm, pŏs′əm)

n. pl. opossum or o·pos·sums

1. Any of various nocturnal, usually arboreal marsupials of the family Didelphidae of the Americas, especially Didelphis virginiana of North and Central America, having a thick coat, a long snout, and a long prehensile tail. See Note at tater.

2. A possum of Australia and adjacent islands.

[Virginia Algonquian.]

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.

opossum

(əˈpɒsəm)

n, pl -sums or -sum

1. (Animals) 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 to: possum

2. (Animals) Also called (Austral and NZ): possum any of various similar animals, esp the phalanger, Trichosurus vulpecula, of the New Zealand bush

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

o•pos•sum

(əˈpɒs əm, ˈpɒs əm)

n., pl. -sums, (esp. collectively) -sum.

1. a prehensile-tailed marsupial, Didelphis virginiana, of the eastern U.S.: noted for feigning death when in danger.

2. any marsupial of the New World family Didelphidae.

3. possum (def. 2).

[1610, Amer.; < Virginia Algonquian (E sp.) opassom, opussum, aposoum]

o·pos·sum

(ə-pŏs′əm)

Any of various rat-like mammals that mostly dwell in trees and have thick fur, a long snout, and a long hairless tail. The tail is often used to hang from branches. Opossums are marsupials and carry their young in a pouch until they grow older, when they cling to their mother's back or tail with their tails. When attacked by predators, opossums "play dead" or "play possum" by collapsing and lying still.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	opossum - small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails phalanger, possum 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
	2.	opossum - nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America possum 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

Translations

vačice

opossumpungrotte

opossumi

oposumassterblinė žiurkė

oposums

opossums

keseli sıçan

opossum

[əˈpɒsəm] N (opossums or opossum (pl)) → zarigüeya f

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

opossum

n → Opossum nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

opossum

[əˈpɒsəm] n → opossum m inv

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

opossum

(əˈposəm) noun

(also possum) a furry animal with a long tail and a pouch for carrying its young which lives in trees; it is found especially in Australia, New Zealand and America.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

A BEAR, a Fox, and an Opossum were attacked by an inundation.

"There are malevolent forces," said the Opossum, "which the wise will neither confront nor avoid.

So saying the Opossum lay down and pretended to be dead.

View in context

Some few species alone have passed the barrier, and may be considered as wanderers from the south, such as the puma, opossum, kinkajou, and peccari.

View in context

The staid, sober, thinking and industrious ones of our number would employ themselves in making corn-brooms, mats, horse-collars, and baskets; and another class of us would spend the time in hunting opossums, hares, and coons.

View in context

My first up-close encounter with an opossum took place years ago, when I went to get feed for our horses one evening.

THE MISUNDERSTOOD MARSUPIAL: Gentle opossums can bring benefits to your property, especially when it comes to eating ticks and other pests

This type of animal is popularly called opossum and a specimen is presented as a synanthropic animal because it is not domesticated but lives nearby and benefits from humans and their dwellings.

Why to Study Opossums?/?Por que Estudiar las Zarigueyas?

By comparing over a hundred different anatomical characteristics, and incorporating DNA evidence from living species, Beck and Taglioretti showed that Sparassocynus is an extinct member of the opossum family, and is most closely related to short-tailed opossums.

The University of Salford: Cute marsupial had a fierce fossil relative

One species of mammal that has the potential to interact extensively with amphibians is the Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana).

Palatability and Predator Avoidance Behavior of Salamanders in Response to the Virginia Opossum (Didelphis virginiana)

He also admitted to shooting three rabbits that day and attempting to shoot an opossum near his house that night.

New Shotgun--Orange County

Occasionally, over the years, one of my dogs will bring back an opossum he has subdued.

Ode to the opossum: Backyard visitor, nature's omnivore