1. Nocturnal arboreal marsupial having a naked prehensile tail found from southern North America to northern South America
   "The opossum played dead when it sensed danger";
   - possum [N. Amer]
    
2. [Austral, NZ] Small furry Australian arboreal marsupials having long, usually prehensile tails
   "The opossum climbed nimbly through the eucalyptus branches";
   - phalanger, possum

Derived forms: opossums

Type of: marsupial, pouched mammal

Part of: Didelphidae, family Didelphidae, family Phalangeridae, Phalangeridae

Encyclopedia: Opossum