tiger
n. countablen. a large wild cat with orange fur and black stripes that lives in Asia. It is a powerful hunter and the biggest member of the cat family.
n. a large carnivorous feline of the species Panthera tigris, native to Asia and distinguished by a pattern of dark vertical stripes on reddish-orange fur. Often used metaphorically to describe a person with a fierce or determined character.
The tiger hides in the tall grass to hunt.
Wildlife photographers spent weeks in the jungle hoping to catch a glimpse of a wild tiger.
Conservation efforts in the region have focused on preserving the natural corridors that allow the tiger to roam between protected forests without encountering human settlements.
From Middle English tygre, in part from Old English tigras (pl.), in part from Anglo-Norman tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Ancient Greek τίγρις (tígris), from Iranian (compare Avestan 𐬙𐬌𐬔𐬭𐬌 (tigri, “arrow”), 𐬙𐬌𐬖𐬭𐬀 (tiγra, “pointed”)). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *(s)teyg- (“to pierce, prick, be sharp”). Compare English stick.
From the mascot of Princeton (a tiger), which led to early cheerleaders calling out "Tiger" at the end of a cheer for the Princeton team.
The word is countable; the collective noun for a group is a 'streak' or an 'ambush'.
- 01
have a tiger by the tail
To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.
- 02
have the tiger by the tail
To be in a difficult or dangerous situation in which one ideally should not remain, but from which one cannot withdraw.
- 03
lady or tiger
A pure gamble with highly divergent outcomes.