kangaroo

[ kang-guh-roo ]

noun

, plural kan·ga·roos, (especially collectively) kan·ga·roo.

1. any herbivorous marsupial of the family Macropodidae, of Australia and adjacent islands, having a small head, short forelimbs, powerful hind legs used for leaping, and a long, thick tail: several species are threatened or endangered.

kangaroo

/ ˌkæŋɡəˈruː /

noun

1. any large herbivorous marsupial of the genus Macropus and related genera, of Australia and New Guinea, having large powerful hind legs, used for leaping, and a long thick tail: family Macropodidae See also rat kangaroo tree kangaroo
2. usually plural stock exchange an Australian share, esp in mining, land, or a tobacco company

verb

1. informal.
   (of a car) to move forward or to cause (a car) to move forward with short sudden jerks, as a result of improper use of the clutch

Derived Forms

• ˌkangaˈroo-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• kanga·roolike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of kangaroo¹

First recorded in 1760–70; from Guugu Yimidhirr (an Australian Aboriginal language spoken around Cooktown, northern Queensland) gaŋ-urru, a large black or gray species of kangaroo

Word History and Origins

Origin of kangaroo¹

C18: probably from a native Australian language

Example Sentences

Her unconventional dance moves, particularly one in which she mimicked a kangaroo, went viral as Gunn became a punchline for the likes of late-night TV host Jimmy Fallon and many others.

From Los Angeles Times

In August, the dancer's Olympic performance was highly criticized for moves like rolling on her back, spinning on her head with her feet still on the ground and a kangaroo dance, an original move Gunn created.

From Salon

Gunn - who is known as B-girl Raygun - failed to get on the scoreboard in all three of her competition rounds in August, with a routine that included unorthodox moves, such as the sprinkler and a kangaroo hop.

From BBC

The strong winds which accompanied the storm cloud began to swirl above the Brisbane River at Kangaroo Point, causing a short-lived waterspout, the name for a tornado over a body of water.

From BBC

Across the street from his property is open space, where he says he regularly sees owls and kangaroo rats among the grasses and native plants.

From Los Angeles Times