tapir

[ tey-per, tuh-peer ]

noun

, plural ta·pirs, (especially collectively) ta·pir.

1. any of several large, stout, three-toed ungulates of the family Tapiridae, of Central and South America, the Malay Peninsula, and Sumatra, somewhat resembling swine and having a long, flexible snout: all species are threatened or endangered.

tapir

/ ˈteɪpə /

noun

1. any perissodactyl mammal of the genus Tapirus, such as T. indicus ( Malayan tapir ), of South and Central America and SE Asia, having an elongated snout, three-toed hind legs, and four-toed forelegs: family Tapiridae

Word History and Origins

Origin of tapir¹

1560–70; ≪ Tupi tapira

Word History and Origins

Origin of tapir¹

C18: from Tupi tapiira

Example Sentences

Now we know that there might have been this crazy saber-toothed animal stalking primates in the branches or maybe stalking the tapirs in the leaves below.

From Science News

Chávez and his colleagues observed the tapir frogs in the shallow spaces beneath the roots of small trees growing from the least waterlogged patches of peat.

From Popular-Science

If this population can be confirmed as tapir frogs, they could give scientists more information about the species’s distribution and how best to conserve it.

From Popular-Science

Within them, young readers are asked to locate a purple tapir named Gordon, but the plot soon diverges from the activity-book formula.

From Time

Once she nursed a sick tapir called April through the night, playing the music of the Doors to stay awake.

From Washington Post

One can cite but the sole example of the American tapir where the male is smaller than the female.

From Project Gutenberg

The tapir is a very large animal,—about five or six feet long and three or four feet high.

From Project Gutenberg

The tapir lives as much in the water as on the land, and delights to wallow like a pig in muddy pools.

From Project Gutenberg

Then Martin turned to fly, but at the same moment the tapir did the same, to his great delight and surprise.

From Project Gutenberg

The tapir stopped feeding for a moment, but then recommenced, though evidently not222 with as much eagerness as before.

From Project Gutenberg