Definitions for POSSUM
ˈpɒs əmpos·sum

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. opossum, possumnoun

   nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America

2. phalanger, opossum, possumnoun

   small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long usually prehensile tails

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.5 / 2 votes

1. possumnoun

   Any of marsupials in several families of the order Diprotodontia of Australia and neighboring islands.

2. possumnoun

   Popular form for opossum, a marsupial of the family Didelphidae of the Americas.

3. Etymology: Corruption of opossum, from wapathemwa.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. possum

   A possum is a type of marsupial native to Australia, New Guinea, Sulawesi, and certain parts of the Americas. They belong to the order Diprotodontia and are characterized by their flexible diet, arboreal habits, and varied appearances, which include sharp claws, prehensile tails, and both large or small sizes, depending on the species. Possums are well-known for their tendency to feign death or "play possum" as a defense mechanism when threatened. It's important to note that in North America, the term 'possum' often refers to a different type of marsupial, the opossum.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Possumnoun

   an opossum

2. Etymology: [Shortened from opossum.]

WikidataRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Possum

   A possum is any of about 70 small to medium-sized arboreal marsupial species native to Australia, New Guinea, and Sulawesi. Possums are quadrupedal diprotodont marsupials with long thick tails. The smallest possum, indeed the smallest diprotodont marsupial, is the Tasmanian pygmy possum, with an adult head-body length of 70 mm and a weight of 10 g. The largest is the bear cuscus that may exceed 7 kg. Possums are typically nocturnal and at least partially arboreal. The various species inhabit most vegetated habitats, and several species have adjusted well to urban settings. Diets range from generalist herbivores or omnivores to specialist browsers of eucalyptus, insectivores and nectar-feeders.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Possum

   pos′um, n. Same as Opossum.

Matched Categories

1. • Marsupial

How to pronounce POSSUM?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say POSSUM in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of POSSUM in Chaldean Numerology is: 4

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of POSSUM in Pythagorean Numerology is: 4

Examples of POSSUM in a Sentence

1. Taronga Zoo:

   At this age she would naturally still be with her mother, so the soft toy gives her something to snuggle for comfort, it’s not as fluffy and woolly as an adult Brushtail Possum, but she clings to it using her claws and teeth as she would do with mum in the wild.

2. Tracy Burgess:

   Once we got the pouch open, a tiny little hand came out with claws on it, so, yeah, there's a pinkie - very little baby unfurred possum, so she's a ferocious mother who has clearly done her best for her bub.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=POSSUM
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Possum
3. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
4. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/POSSUM
5. ^ Wikidata
   https://www.wikidata.org/w/index.php?search=POSSUM
6. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=POSSUM