cheetah

[ chee-tuh ]

/ ˈtʃi tə /

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noun

a cat, Acinonyx jubatus, of southwestern Asia and Africa, resembling a leopard but having certain doglike characteristics, often trained for hunting deer, antelope, etc.: an endangered species.

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Origin of cheetah

1695–1705; <Hindi cītā<Sanskrit citraka leopard; compare Pali cittaka,Prakrit cittaya

Words nearby cheetah

cheese straw, cheese tray, cheesewood, cheese worker's lung, cheesy, cheetah, Cheever, chef, chef de cuisine, chef-d'oeuvre, cheffy

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use cheetah in a sentence

A baby cheetah cub is being hand-fed by caretakers for several weeks at the National Zoo’s sister facility in Virginia after its siblings were stillborn and its mother abandoned it.
Watch a cheetah cub get bottle-fed at National Zoo’s sister facility|Dana Hedgpeth|September 22, 2021|Washington Post
Scientists believe that this genetic mechanism could help explain the beautiful patterns found on other large felines like tigers, leopards, and cheetahs.
We finally know what turns cats into tabbies|Hannah Seo|September 8, 2021|Popular-Science
I wanted to be part of his act, and I wanted to find a way to be with my cheetah again.
Siegfried Fischbacher, half of large-animal magic team Siegfried & Roy, dies at 81|Matt Schudel|January 14, 2021|Washington Post
In his hometown of Bremen, he had worked at the local zoo, caring for a cheetah named Chico.
Siegfried Fischbacher, half of large-animal magic team Siegfried & Roy, dies at 81|Matt Schudel|January 14, 2021|Washington Post

Playing cheetah cubs frequently scare off prey by chasing each other or by clambering over their stalking mother.
Why It Pays to Play Around - Issue 94: Evolving|Andreas Wagner|December 16, 2020|Nautilus
In the Middle East, a cheetah riding shotgun in the plush leather seat of a luxury sports car is the ultimate status symbol.
The $10 Billion Pet Cheetah and Chimp Industry|Sharon Adarlo|July 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sharing the stage with Bators was Dead Boys guitarist Cheetah Chrome.
Rupert Grint Talks About ‘CBGB,’ Harry Potter, and His Butt|Kevin Fallon|October 12, 2013|DAILY BEAST
According to his mother, Horowitz was inspired by a Cheetah Girls concert he attended at age 7.
The Six Most Fabulous, Most Epic Bar Mitzvah Dances Ever (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|August 14, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The cheetah, the tiger, and even the wild cats who live by killing, leave no trace behind.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
I think that I mentioned to you that the doctor kept a cheetah and a baboon.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes|A. Conan Doyle
There was a cheetah, too; perhaps we might find it upon our shoulders at any moment.
Adventures of Sherlock Holmes|A. Conan Doyle
One member of our family has always wanted a cheetah or hunting leopard.
If You're Going to Live in the Country|Thomas H. Ormsbee and Richmond Huntley
The cheetah or hunting leopard (Cynaelurus jubatus) must be carefully distinguished from the leopard proper.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4|Various

British Dictionary definitions for cheetah

cheetah

chetah

/ (ˈtʃiːtə) /

noun

a large feline mammal, Acinonyx jubatus, of Africa and SW Asia: the swiftest mammal, having very long legs, nonretractile claws, and a black-spotted light-brown coat

Word Origin for cheetah

C18: from Hindi cītā, from Sanskrit citrakāya tiger, from citra bright, speckled + kāya body

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

cheetah

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Origin of cheetah

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British Dictionary definitions for cheetah

chetah

Word Origin for cheetah