Dictionary
tapir
noun ta·pir \ˈtā-pər also ˈtā-ˌpir or tə-ˈpir\
: an animal that is like a pig with a long nose and short legs and that lives in tropical America and Southeast Asia
plural tapirs also tapir
Full Definition of TAPIR
: any of a genus (Tapirus) of herbivorous chiefly nocturnal perissodactyl mammals of tropical America and southeastern Asia from Myanmar to Sumatra that have a heavy sparsely hairy body and the snout and upper lip prolonged into a short flexible proboscis
See tapir defined for English-language learners
See tapir defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Illustration of TAPIR
Origin of TAPIR
Portuguese tapir, tapira, from Tupi tapiʔíra
First Known Use: 1774
TAPIRS Defined for Kids
tapir
noun ta·pir \ˈtā-pər\
Definition of TAPIR for Kids
: a large hoofed plant-eating animal of tropical America and southeastern Asia that has short thick legs, a short tail, and a long flexible snout
Learn More About TAPIR
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up tapir? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).