panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

2

: a large black-and-white mammal (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually classified with the bears (family Ursidae)

called also giant panda

Illustration of panda

• A red panda
• B panda 2

Examples of panda in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There are around 600 pandas in captivity and Beijing loans some of them to about 20 countries. —Kathleen Magramo, CNN, 15 Aug. 2024

The Smithsonian Zoo in Washington D.C. expects to receive two pandas by the end of the year and the San Francisco Zoo is on tap. —Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY, 9 Aug. 2024

Place one of the lavender scallops at the front left ledge and the other behind the panda plant. —Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 8 Aug. 2024

But a panda rapprochement now appears to be underway. —Paul Rogers, The Mercury News, 7 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, perhaps from a language of the southeast Himalayas

First Known Use

1834, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing panda

• giant panda
• lesser panda
• panda car
• red panda

Kids Definition

panda

noun

pan·​da ˈpan-də 

1

: red panda

2

: a large black and white mammal of chiefly central China that feeds primarily on bamboo shoots and is now usually considered to be closely related to the bears

called also giant panda