From WordNet (r) 2.0 (August 2003) [wn]:
panda
n 1: 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 [syn: giant panda, panda bear, {coon
bear}, Ailuropoda melanoleuca]
2: reddish-brown Old World raccoon-like carnivore; in some
classifications considered unrelated to the giant pandas
[syn: lesser panda, red panda, bear cat, cat bear,
Ailurus fulgens]
From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:
panda \pan"da\ (p[a^]n"d[.a]), n. (Zool.)
1. A small Asiatic mammal (Ailurus fulgens) having fine
soft fur, which inhabits the mountains of Northern India.
It was once thought to be related to the bears, but is now
believed to be more closely related to raccoons. It has
reddish-brown fur on the back and sides, and black fur on
the legs and underside. Called also the lesser panda.
[1913 Webster +PJC]
2. The giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a bearlike
black-and white mammal now found wild only in the central
forests of China, which lives mainly on on bamboo. It is
an endangered species, and is a popular attraction in the
few zoos which have bveen able to obtain specimens.
[PJC]