I. o‧pos‧sum /əˈpɒsəm $ -ˈpɑː-, ˈpɑːsəm/ (also possum) noun [countable]
[Date: 1600-1700; Language: Virginia Algonquian; Origin: opassom, from op 'white' + assom 'dog']
one of various small animals from America and Australia that have fur and climb trees

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. pos‧sum /ˈpɒsəm $ ˈpɑː-/ (also opossum) noun [countable]
[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 will not annoy or hurt you

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

possum
ˈpɔsəm
See: play possum

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲