noun
tiger
TEYE-guh
noun
1
A large, powerful wild cat native to Asia, with an orange coat marked by black stripes.
"The tiger prowled silently through the tall grass."
"Wild tigers are endangered due to habitat loss and poaching."
2
A country or economy that has grown rapidly and successfully, especially in Asia.
"South Korea became known as one of the "Asian tigers" in the 1990s."
3
A fierce, bold, or aggressive person.
"She's a real tiger in business negotiations."
How to Use Tiger
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA striped big cat, or figuratively, a fierce or highly successful person or economy.
Common pairings
tiger stripes
paper tiger
Asian tiger economy
Word Forms
tigers plural, tigers plural, Tigers plural
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Etymology
From Old English tigras and Old French tigre, both from Latin tigris, ultimately from Greek and an Iranian source related to a word for "arrow" — likely a reference to the animal's speed.