Dictionary
tiger
noun ti·ger \ˈtī-gər\
: a large, wild cat that has a coat of usually yellow or orange fur and black stripes and that lives in Asia
: a striped cat that lives with people
: a person who is very fierce or aggressive
plural tigers
Full Definition of TIGER
1
plural also tiger a : a large Asian carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) of the cat family having a usually tawny coat transversely striped with black b : any of several large wildcats (as the jaguar or cougar) c : a domestic cat with striped pattern d Australian : tasmanian tiger
2
a : a fierce, daring, or aggressive person or quality <aroused the tiger in him> <a tiger for work> b : one (as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control <how the tiger of inflation can be tamed — J. A. Davenport> —often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail
3
British : a groom in livery
— ti·ger·ish \-g(ə-)rish\ adjective
— ti·ger·ish·ly adverb
— ti·ger·ish·ness noun
— ti·ger·like \-gər-ˌlīk\ adjective
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Origin of TIGER
Middle English tigre, from Old English tiger & Anglo-French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Greek, probably of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan tighra- pointed; akin to Greek stizein to tattoo — more at stick
First Known Use: before 12th century
Related to TIGER
- Synonyms
- barracuda, fire-breather, fire-eater, pit bull
- Antonyms
- milquetoast
Rhymes with TIGER
TIGERISH Defined for Kids
tiger
noun ti·ger \ˈtī-gər\
Definition of TIGER for Kids
: a large Asian meat-eating animal of the cat family that is light brown with black stripes
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