leopard

American  

[lep-erd] / ˈlɛp ərd /

noun

1. a large, spotted Asian or African carnivore, Panthera pardus, of the cat family, usually tawny with black markings; the Old World panther: all leopard populations are threatened or endangered.

2. the fur or pelt of this animal.

3. any of various related cats resembling this animal.

4. Heraldry.  a lion represented from the side as walking, usually with one forepaw raised, and looking toward the spectator.

5. Numismatics.

   1. an Anglo-Gallic gold coin issued by Edward III, equal to half a florin, bearing the figure of a leopard.

   2. a silver Anglo-Gallic coin issued by Henry V.

6. Military.  Leopard, a 42-ton (38-metric ton) West German tank with a 105 mm gun.

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leopard British  

/ ˈlɛpəd /

noun

1. Also called: panther.  a large feline mammal, Panthera pardus, of forests of Africa and Asia, usually having a tawny yellow coat with black rosette-like spots

2. any of several similar felines, such as the snow leopard and cheetah

3. a feline, Neofelis nebulosa, of SE Asia and Indonesia with a yellowish-brown coat marked with darker spots and blotches

4. heraldry a stylized leopard, painted as a lion with the face turned towards the front

5. the pelt of a leopard

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Other Word Forms

• leopardess noun

Etymology

Origin of leopard

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English leopard, labarde, lebarde, from Old French leopard, lebard, leupard, from Late Latin leōpardus, from Greek leópardos, syncopated variant of leontópardos, equivalent to leonto- (stem of léōn ) + párdos; lion, pard ¹

Example Sentences

The intriguing markings, nicknamed leopard spots and poppy seeds, contain minerals produced by chemical reactions that could be associated with ancient microbes.

From BBC

These rival kitties were leopard cats, small wild cats with leopard-like spots, that lived in human settlements in China for around 3,500 years.

From BBC

"They were perhaps hunting like leopards -- dropping out of trees on any unsuspecting thing they fancied for dinner."

From Science Daily

Spanish police announced on Saturday they had raided a unlicensed animal sanctuary and rescued hundreds of exotic creatures including leopard tortoises, iguanas and geckos.

From Barron's

Co-author Prof Michael Archer said "drop crocs" were a "bizarre idea" but some were "perhaps hunting like leopards - dropping out of trees on any unsuspecting thing they fancied for dinner".

From BBC

Related Words

• cheetah
• panther