quokka

noun

1. a small wallaby-like marsupial of the genus Setonix, native to Western Australia, about the size of a domestic cat and known for its rounded body, short tail, and habit of appearing to smile

   B2

   countableAustralian

   • "A quokka is about the size of a small dog."B1
   • "Quokkas were once common across southwestern Australia but are now confined mainly to a few islands."B2
   • "Ecologists have warned that the quokka's habitat is increasingly threatened by development and climate change."C1

2. used to refer to a person, image, or scene that looks exceptionally cheerful or photogenic

   C1

   informal

   • "The baby's grin was so wide she looked like a quokka."B2
   • "He became known as the office quokka because he was always smiling for the camera."