marsupialnoun [ C ]
uk/mɑːˈsuː.pi.əl/us/mɑːrˈsuː.pi.əl/a type of mammal from Australasia or South or Central America that is not completely developed when it is born and is carried around in a pouch (= a body part like a pocket) on the mother's body, where it is fed and protected until it is completely developed:
Marsupials include koalas, possums, and kangaroos.
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- animal kingdom
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marsupialadjective
uk/mɑːˈsuː.pi.əl/us/mɑːr-/specializedgiving birth to young that are not completely developed when they are born, and that are carried and fed in a pouch on the mother's body:
The study sheds light on the genetic differences between placental and marsupial mammals.