puma
n. countablen. a large, wild cat with light brown fur that lives in the mountains and forests of North and South America.
n. a large, tawny-colored wild cat native to the Americas, also known as a mountain lion or cougar.
The puma moved silently through the mountain forest.
Hikers are warned to stay on the trail to avoid disturbing the local puma population.
Conservationists track the puma across vast territories to understand how urban expansion affects the migratory patterns of these solitary predators.
Borrowed from Spanish puma, from Quechua puma.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Usage
Often used interchangeably with 'cougar' or 'mountain lion' depending on the geographical region.
Last updated May 7, 2026