binturong: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very RareSpecialist, Zoological, Academic
Quick answer
What does “binturong” mean?
A large, arboreal, nocturnal mammal native to Southeast Asia, with coarse black fur, a prehensile tail, and facial whiskers.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A large, arboreal, nocturnal mammal native to Southeast Asia, with coarse black fur, a prehensile tail, and facial whiskers; also called a bearcat.
A specific animal of the Viverridae family, known for its unique musky scent and status as the only Old World mammal with a fully prehensile tail.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both dialects use the term 'binturong' in specialist contexts. 'Bearcat' is somewhat more common in general American public zoo discourse.
Connotations
In both regions, the word primarily denotes the specific animal without significant cultural connotation.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, limited to wildlife documentaries, zoos, and natural history texts.
Grammar
How to Use “binturong” in a Sentence
The binturong [verb of observation: climbed, scent-marked, slept].We saw a binturong [prepositional phrase: in the canopy, at the zoo].Vocabulary
Collocations
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in zoology, biology, and conservation science texts discussing Southeast Asian fauna or mammalian traits like prehensility.
Everyday
Extremely rare. Might appear in conversation after a zoo visit or in a nature documentary.
Technical
Standard term in zoological taxonomy, veterinary medicine for exotic species, and wildlife conservation reports.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “binturong”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “binturong”
- Mispronouncing it as 'bin-TUR-ong' (stress should be on first syllable).
- Confusing it with a red panda or raccoon.
- Using it as a common noun (e.g., 'a type of binturong' – it is one specific species).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. Despite the nickname 'bearcat', it is neither. It is a viverrid, related to civets and genets.
It produces a musky scent, often compared to buttered popcorn or corn chips, from scent glands near its tail.
In the wild, in Southeast Asian forests. In captivity, they are occasionally housed in zoological parks with specialised enclosures for arboreal mammals.
No, it is a very rare, specialist term. Most English speakers would not know the word unless they have a specific interest in zoology or have visited a zoo that has one.
A large, arboreal, nocturnal mammal native to Southeast Asia, with coarse black fur, a prehensile tail, and facial whiskers.
Binturong is usually specialist, zoological, academic in register.
Binturong: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbɪn.tjʊə.rɒŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbɪn.tʊˌrɔŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a bear with a cat's face, but it's NEITHER. It's a BIN-TWO-rong: you'd need TWO strong bins to contain this large, musky creature.
Practice
Quiz
What is the most distinctive anatomical feature of the binturong?