[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/possum/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [P](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/p/) / possum

# possum

noun (a possum, possums)

«possum» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A possum is an Australian and New Zealand marsupial (an animal with a pouch) that lives in trees and comes out at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#m1)
2. (US) Possum is the short name for opossum, an American animal with a pouch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#m2)
3. (informal) «Play possum» means to pretend to be asleep or dead. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#m3)

### In the lessons

In Australia possums are common in gardens and roofs; in New Zealand they are a pest that harms forests and birds. In the US «opossum» or «possum» is a different animal. In science lessons it is about marsupials and nocturnal animals. The phrase «playing possum» comes from the opossum pretending to be dead.

### Examples

- A possum climbed onto our roof at night. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x1)
- Possums carry babies in a pouch. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x2)
- In New Zealand, possums eat birds' eggs and trees. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x3)
- The opossum, or possum, lives in America. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x4)
- My brother played possum so he wouldn't have to get up. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x5)
- We heard possums in the gum tree. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x6)
- (Australia) «G'day, possum» is a friendly name for someone you like. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x7)
- The possum's eyes shone in the torch light. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/#x8)

### Note

Plural: possums. Australian/NZ possums and American opossums are not the same animal, though both have pouches. In Australia «possum» is also a pet name (a friendly way to talk to a child).

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «possum» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/P/possum/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«possum» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/possum.html) on Mova free.