raccoon
Raccoon (noun) means a nocturnal mammal native to the Americas, easily recognised by its grey-and-black fur, masked face, and ringed tail. Example: “A raccoon knocked over our bins again last night.”
How to use raccoon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA masked, ring-tailed nocturnal animal common across North America, well known for raiding rubbish bins.
Word forms
- Plural
- raccoons
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ knocked over our bins again last night.
Etymology
Borrowed from a Powhatan word describing the animal's habit of scratching or rubbing with its hands.