lion
//ˈlaɪən//
Forms
- Plural
- lions
Definitions
1.A big cat, Panthera leo, native to Africa, India and formerly much of Europe.
- Tigers and lions share a common ancestor from a few million years ago.
- Sinibaldus lists lion's fat as a popular medieval aphrodisiac treatment.
2.A Chinese foo dog.
- The lion is the king of the jungle.
3.Any of various extant and extinct big cats, especially the mountain lion.
- The lion is the king of the jungle.
4.A person who shows attributes associated with the lion, such as strength, courage, or ferocity.
- It was said of [Edward Plantaganet] that ‘he was a lion for pride and ferocity but a pard for inconstancy and changeableness, not keeping his word or promise but excusing himself with fair words’.
1.Of the light brown color that resembles the fur of a lion.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #3184
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English lyoun, lion, leon, borrowed from Old French lion, from Latin leō, (accusative: leōnem), from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), of unclear origin.
Doublet of Leo, leu, lev, and Lyon.
Displaced Old English lēo, from the same Latin source.