First Known Use: 12th century
Dictionary
lion
noun li·on \ˈlī-ən\
: a large wild cat that has golden brown fur and that lives mainly in Africa
: a very important, powerful, or successful person
plural lions
Full Definition of LION
1
a or plural lion : a large heavily built social cat (Panthera leo) of open or rocky areas chiefly of sub-Saharan Africa though once widely distributed throughout Africa and southern Asia that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male b : any of several large wildcats; especially : cougar 1 c capitalized : leo
2
a : a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity) b : a person of outstanding interest or importance <a literary lion>
3
capitalized [Lions (club)] : a member of a major national and international service club
— li·on·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective
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Origin of LION
Middle English lioun, from Anglo-French leun, lion, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn
LION Defined for Kids
lion
noun li·on \ˈlī-ən\
Definition of LION for Kids
: a large meat-eating animal of the cat family that has a brownish buff coat, a tufted tail, and in the male a shaggy mane and that lives in Africa and southern Asia
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