possum pos·sum n
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o|pos|sum — «uh POS uhm», noun. a small animal that carries its young in a pouch or on its back. The opossum is a mammal, feeds at night, and lives mostly in trees. There are several kinds, making up a family of animals. One kind, when caught or frightened,… … Useful english dictionary
Possum — Pos sum, n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zo[ o]l.) An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.] [1913 Webster] {To play possum}, {To act possum}, to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; in allusion to the habit of… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
possum — pos•sum [[t]ˈpɒs əm[/t]] n. pl. sums, (esp. collectively) sum. 1) mam opossum 2) brit. any of many marsupials of the families Phalangeridae, Petauridae, and Burramidae, of Australia and neighboring islands • play possum Etymology: 1725–35 … From formal English to slang
possum — pos|sum [ˈpɔsəm US ˈpa: ] n also opossum [Date: 1600 1700; Origin: opossum] 1.) one of various types of small furry animals that climb trees and live in America or Australia 2.) play possum informal to pretend to be asleep or dead so that someone … Dictionary of contemporary English
possum — pos|sum [ pasəm ] noun count an OPOSSUM play possum INFORMAL 1. ) to pretend to be dead or sleeping in order to trick someone 2. ) to pretend not to be involved in something in order to protect yourself … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
possum — pos·sum … English syllables
To act possum — Possum Pos sum, n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zo[ o]l.) An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.] [1913 Webster] {To play possum}, {To act possum}, to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; in allusion to the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
To play possum — Possum Pos sum, n. [Shortened from opossum.] (Zo[ o]l.) An opossum. [Colloq. U. S.] [1913 Webster] {To play possum}, {To act possum}, to feign ignorance, indifference or inattention, with the intent to deceive; to dissemble; in allusion to the… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
possum — Opossum O*pos sum, n. [Of N. American Indian origin.] (Zo[ o]l.) Any American marsupial of the genera {Didelphys} and {Chironectes}; called also {possum}. The common species of the United States is {Didelphys Virginiana}. [1913 Webster] Note:… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
POSSUM — Pictures of Standard Syndromes and Undiagnosed Malformations; Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the Enumeration of Morbidity and Mortality [study] * * * n. a device that enables severely paralysed patients to use typewriters, adding… … Medical dictionary
opossum — o•pos•sum [[t]əˈpɒs əm, ˈpɒs əm[/t]] n. pl. sums, (esp. collectively) sum. 1) mam a prehensile tailed marsupial, Didelphis virginiana, of the eastern U.S.: noted for feigning death when in danger 2) mam any marsupial of the New World family… … From formal English to slang
