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

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

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

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

See tiger defined for English-language learners

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Illustration of TIGER

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