a large, carnivorous, tawny-colored and black-striped feline, Panthera tigris, of Asia, ranging in several subspecies from India and the Malay Peninsula to Siberia: the entire species is endangered, with some subspecies thought to be extinct.
the cougar, jaguar, thylacine, or other animal resembling the tiger.
a person resembling a tiger in fierceness, courage, etc.
a country that is considered to have a tiger economy.
Taiwan is one of the four Asian tigers.
an additional cheer (often the wordtiger ) at the end of a round of cheering.
any of several strong, voracious fishes, as a sand shark.
any of numerous animals with stripes similar to a tiger's.
a large feline mammal, Panthera tigris, of forests in most of Asia, having a tawny yellow coat with black stripes
(not in technical use) any of various other animals, such as the jaguar, leopard, and thylacine
a dynamic, forceful, or cruel person
a country, esp in E Asia, that is achieving rapid economic growth
( as modifier )
a tiger economy
archaic a servant in livery, esp a page or groom
short for tiger moth
slang a ten-rand note
informal to find oneself in a situation that has turned out to be much more difficult to control than one had expected
before 1000; Middle English tigre, Old English tīgras (plural) < Latin tīgris, tigris < Greek tígris
You can think of a tiger as your sweet pet cat's distant cousin. Easily recognizable because of its distinctive dark stripes and orange fur, the tiger is the largest of all the cats. Some subspecies of tiger can weigh as much as 600 pounds. Because they are such fierce predators, tigers and humans have often clashed throughout history, resulting in the tiger's current classification as an endangered species. A person who's especially ambitious or fierce might also be called a tiger. The word may share a root with the Old Persian tigra-, "sharp."
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
In a worst-case scenario, Citi estimates a 2026 operating profit hit of 18% for Futu and 36% for Tiger.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
The site of the enclosure is believed to be owned by controversial trainer and private owner Carmen Zander, who describes herself as Germany's "Tiger Queen".
From BBC • May 18, 2026
A last-ditch effort to broker a merger between the rival leagues took place in the White House in February 2025 when President Trump hosted Al-Rumayyan, PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Tiger Woods.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026
Known locally as "Goni Tiger", the 45-year-old devoted his life to promoting coexistence between the big cats and the people living on the forest's edge.
From Barron's • Apr. 28, 2026
Angel was happy with Tiger the kitten and the safe sleeping arrangements.
From "Forged by Fire" by Sharon M. Draper
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
