tiger
//ˈtaɪɡə//
Forms
- Plural
- tigers
Definitions
1.Panthera tigris, a large predatory mammal of the cat family, indigenous to Asia.
- You cannot compare the strength of a man to that of a tiger, but nevertheless, the tiger is still the inferior creature.
2.A representation of a large mythological cat, used on a coat of arms.
- You cannot compare the strength of a man to that of a tiger, but nevertheless, the tiger is still the inferior creature.
3.A leopard.
- Jim remarked irrelevantly that tigers were 'schelms' and it was his conviction that there were a great many in the kloofs round about.
4.Other animals that resemble true tigers in appearance, pattern, colouration, etc.
- What you mean is that no scientist has captured one and been able to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that it exists, which is probably very good news for the tiger.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2961
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English tygre, in part from Old English tigras (pl.), in part from Anglo-Norman tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Ancient Greek τίγρις (tígris), from Iranian (compare Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬔𐬭𐬌 (tigri, “arrow”), 𐬙𐬌𐬖𐬭𐬀 (tiγra, “pointed”)).