kan·ga·roo n.  Zool. Any one of numerous species of jumping marsupials of the family Macropodidæ.  They inhabit Australia, New Guinea, and adjacent islands, They have long and strong hind legs and a large tail, while the fore legs are comparatively short and feeble.  The giant kangaroo (Macropus major) is the largest species, sometimes becoming twelve or fourteen feet in total length.  The tree kangaroos, belonging to the genus Dendrolagus, live in trees; the rock kangaroos, of the genus Petrogale, inhabit rocky situations; and the brush kangaroos, of the genus Halmaturus, inhabit wooded districts. See Wallaby.
 Kangaroo apple Bot., the edible fruit of the Tasmanian plant Solanum aviculare.
 Kangaroo grass Bot., a perennial Australian forage grass (Anthistiria australis).
 Kangaroo hare Zool., the jerboa kangaroo. See under Jerboa.
 Kangaroo mouse. Zool. See Jumping mouse, under Jumping.

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 Jump·ing, p. a. & vb. n. of Jump, to leap.
 Jumping bean, a seed of a Mexican Euphorbia, containing the larva of a moth (Carpocapsa saltitans). The larva by its sudden movements causes the seed to roll to roll and jump about.
 Jumping deer Zool., a South African rodent (Pedetes Caffer), allied to the jerboa.
 Jumping louse Zool., any of the numerous species of plant lice belonging to the family Psyllidæ, several of which are injurious to fruit trees.
 Jumping mouse Zool., North American mouse (Zapus Hudsonius), having a long tail and large hind legs. It is noted for its jumping powers. Called also kangaroo mouse.
 Jumping mullet Zool., gray mullet.
 Jumping shrew Zool., any African insectivore of the genus Macroscelides. They are allied to the shrews, but have large hind legs adapted for jumping.
 Jumping spider Zool., spider of the genus Salticus and other related genera; one of the Saltigradæ; -- so called because it leaps upon its prey.

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 jumping mouse
      n : any of several primitive mouselike rodents with long hind
          legs and no cheek pouches; of woodlands of Eurasia and
          North America