marsupial
pronunciation
How to pronounce marsupial in British English:
UK [mɑ:ˈsu:piəl]
How to pronounce marsupial in American English:
US [mɑrˈsupiəl]
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- Noun:
- mammals of which the females have a pouch (the marsupium) containing the teats where the young are fed and carried
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- Adjective:
- of or relating to the marsupials
Word Origin
- marsupial (adj.)
- 1690s, with -al (1) + Modern Latin marsupialis "having a pouch," coined from Late Latin marsupium "pouch, purse" (Classical Latin marsuppium), from Greek marsipion, diminutive of marsipos "bag, pouch," of foreign, possibly oriental, origin. As a noun from 1805.
Example
- 1. Australia s marsupial is in very grave danger .
- 2. Small burrowing australian marsupial that resembles a mole .
- 3. The red kangaroo is the largest living marsupial and australia 's largest native land mammal , well adapted for australia 's dry interior .
- 4. Rare doglike carnivorous marsupial of tasmania having stripes on its back ; probably extinct .
- 5. Omnivorous nocturnal marsupial of the americas and australia without a pouch ; its fur is highly prized .