Definitions for kangarooˌkæŋ gəˈru

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

kan•ga•rooˌkæŋ gəˈru(n.)(pl.)-roos; -roo.

any herbivorous leaping marsupial of the family Macropodidae, of Australia and adjacent islands, having short forelimbs, powerful hind legs, and a long, thick tail.
Category: Mammals

Origin of kangaroo:

1770; < Guugu Yimidhirr (Australian Aboriginal language)

kan`ga•roo′like`(adj.)

Princeton's WordNet

kangaroo(noun)
any of several herbivorous leaping marsupials of Australia and New Guinea having large powerful hind legs and a long thick tail

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

kangaroo(noun)ˌkæŋ gəˈru
a large Australian animal that hops on its back legs

Wiktionary

kangaroo(Noun)
A member of a family of large marsupials with strong hind legs for hopping, mainly found in Australia, scientific name macropod.
kangaroo(Noun)
A hooded jacket with a front pocket, usually of fleece material, a kangaroo jacket.

Origin: From gangurru, recorded by James Cook and others in 1770 at Endeavour River; in English, applied to the whole family of macropods, apparently from not realizing the Guugu Yimidhirr word referred to just one species.

Webster Dictionary

Kangaroo(noun)
any one of numerous species of jumping marsupials of the family Macropodidae. They inhabit Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, They have long and strong hind legs and a large tail, while the fore legs are comparatively short and feeble. The giant kangaroo (Macropus major) is the largest species, sometimes becoming twelve or fourteen feet in total length. The tree kangaroos, belonging to the genus Dendrolagus, live in trees; the rock kangaroos, of the genus Petrogale, inhabit rocky situations; and the brush kangaroos, of the genus Halmaturus, inhabit wooded districts. See Wallaby

Translations for kangaroo

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

kangaroo(noun)

a type of large Australian animal with very long hind legs and great power of leaping, the female of which carries her young in a pouch on the front of her body.