panda

The word “panda” means a large black-and-white bear native to China that feeds almost entirely on bamboo. In plain terms, the black-and-white bear famous for eating bamboo and being a symbol of conservation.

“Panda” is pronounced PUHN-duh (/ˈpɑndə/ in IPA).

Here is “panda” used in a sentence: “The zoo's new panda spent most of the day eating bamboo.”

“Panda” is a noun.

The word “panda” dates back to around 1800 and comes from French. Borrowed into English in the 19th century, likely via French from a Nepali or related Himalayan word originally used for the red panda, later extended to the more famous giant panda.

“Panda” is an uncommon word in modern English.

A panda, or giant panda, is a large black-and-white bear native to China that feeds almost entirely on bamboo. A red panda is a smaller, distinct animal with reddish-brown fur that is not closely related to bears in the same way, despite sharing part of the name and a bamboo diet.

Yes, the giant panda is classified as a bear, distinguished by its black-and-white coloring and its diet, which consists almost entirely of bamboo. This is unusual among bears, which are typically more broadly omnivorous.

Pandas are native to China, where they live in specific mountainous, bamboo-forest regions. Their limited natural habitat and specialized bamboo diet make them closely identified with the country.