Opossum

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /əˈpÉ’sÉ™m/
• US enPR: É™-päsʹəm, IPA: /əˈpÉ‘sÉ™m/
• Hyphenation: o + pos + sum

Origin

From Powhatan aposoum ("white animal"), from Proto-Algonquian *wa·p-aʔθemw ("white dog"); compare Ojibwe waabasim ("white dog").

Full definition of opossum

Noun

1. Any American marsupial of the family Didelphidae. The common species of the United States is Didelphis virginiana.

Synonyms

• possum US

Derived terms

• water opossum ()
• opossum mouse
• opossum rat ()
• opossum shrimp