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

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

It’s from that direction that Mumirimina men, women and children would have come down the slope on 3 May 1804, singing as they hunted kangaroos.

From BBC

The 37-year-old university lecture failed to score any points in all three of her competition rounds in Paris, with a routine that included unorthodox moves, such as the sprinkler and the kangaroo hop.

From BBC

This license allows her to operate her Missouri zoo, Sunrise Beach Safari, where guests can hold sloths, see kangaroos and feed llamas.

From Los Angeles Times