large black-and-white herbivorous mammal of bamboo forests of China and Tibet; in some classifications considered a member of the bear family or of a separate family Ailuropodidae
"A giant panda spends most of its day eating bamboo in the misty mountains of Sichuan."
reddish-brown Old World raccoon-like carnivore; in some classifications considered unrelated to the giant pandas
"The red panda, a small arboreal animal native to the Himalayas, differs significantly from its namesake giant cousin."
The red panda (Ailurus fulgens), a small raccoon-like animal of northeast Asia with reddish fur and a long, ringed tail.
"The village elder invited the panda to officiate at the ancestral rites because of his deep knowledge of our family history and sacred traditions."
A brahmin who acts as the hereditary superintendent of a particular ghat or temple, and is regarded as knowledgeable in matters of genealogy and ritual.
In plain English: A panda is a large, black-and-white bear that lives in forests and mostly eats bamboo.
"The giant panda eats bamboo all day long."
Usage: Use "panda" to refer specifically to the giant bear native to China or its smaller cousin, the red panda from northeast Asia; do not use it for any other type of bear or similar-looking animal. The term is often confused with generic descriptions like "black and white cat," but these animals are distinct mammals in their own right.
The word panda likely comes from French and is probably derived from the second part of nigálya-pónya, a local name for the red panda recorded in Nepal. This original term may have been formed by combining elements meaning "relating to bamboo" with another regional suffix.