# lion

/ˈɫaɪən/ (US) · /lˈaɪən/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/lion
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. the animal

noun · CEFR A1

a large, powerful wild cat from Africa and India. The male usually has a thick mane of hair around its neck.

For teachers: a large, carnivorous feline of the species Panthera leo, native to Africa and parts of India, characterized by a tawny coat and, in the male, a prominent mane.

- We saw a pride of lions resting under a tree during our safari.
- The conservation project aims to protect the natural habitat of the African lion, ensuring that the population remains stable despite increasing human encroachment.

### 2. a brave person

noun · CEFR B2

a person who is very brave, strong, or fierce.

For teachers: a person characterized by exceptional courage, strength, or ferocity.

- He was a lion in battle, never showing any fear to his enemies.
- The activist was remembered as a lion of the civil rights movement, having faced systemic opposition with unwavering fortitude.

### 3. a famous person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a famous or important person who people want to see and meet.

For teachers: a person of great importance or celebrity who is sought after as a social attraction.

- The young poet became a literary lion after his first book was published.
- As a lion of the local social scene, the countess was expected to attend every major gallery opening and gala in the city.

### 4. astronomy/zodiac

noun · CEFR B1

the constellation or the star sign called Leo.

For teachers: the constellation Leo or the fifth sign of the zodiac.

- The Lion is one of the easiest constellations to find in the night sky.
- In classical astronomy, the Lion is depicted as the Nemean lion, a creature from Greek mythology placed among the stars by Zeus.

### 5. color

adjective · CEFR C2 · Literary

having a light brownish-yellow color, like the fur of a lion.

For teachers: denoting a light brownish-yellow or tawny color resembling the pelage of a lion.

- She wore a lion-colored coat that matched the autumn leaves.
- The vast, lion plains of the Serengeti stretched toward the horizon, shimmering under the intense midday heat.

## Examples

- The lion sleeps under a tree during the hot afternoon.
- We watched a pride of lions hunting together across the grassy plains of the savanna.
- Conservation efforts in the region have focused on protecting the natural habitat of the lion to ensure the survival of the local pride against encroaching human development.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.