tiger
Americannoun
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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.
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the cougar, jaguar, thylacine, or other animal resembling the tiger.
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a person resembling a tiger in fierceness, courage, etc.
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a country that is considered to have a tiger economy.
Taiwan is one of the four Asian tigers.
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an additional cheer (often the wordtiger ) at the end of a round of cheering.
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any of several strong, voracious fishes, as a sand shark.
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any of numerous animals with stripes similar to a tiger's.
adjective
noun
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a large feline mammal, Panthera tigris, of forests in most of Asia, having a tawny yellow coat with black stripes
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(not in technical use) any of various other animals, such as the jaguar, leopard, and thylacine
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a dynamic, forceful, or cruel person
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a country, esp in E Asia, that is achieving rapid economic growth
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( as modifier )
a tiger economy
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archaic a servant in livery, esp a page or groom
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short for tiger moth
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slang a ten-rand note
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informal to find oneself in a situation that has turned out to be much more difficult to control than one had expected
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of tiger
before 1000; Middle English tigre, Old English tīgras (plural) < Latin tīgris, tigris < Greek tígris
Explanation
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."
Vocabulary lists containing tiger
Orange
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Spelling Practice 2, Unit 5
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Example Sentences
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
There are two independent American films in the main competition: "Paper Tiger" by James Gray, starring Adam Driver and Scarlett Johansson, as well as "The Man I Love" by Ira Sachs featuring Rami Malek.
From Barron's • May 11, 2026
Having powered past the U.K. only last week, the Asian Tiger economy now only ranks behind the U.S.,
From MarketWatch • May 7, 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
“My father got into some trouble—a long time ago—before the Tiger King became emperor.”
From "When the Sea Turned to Silver" by Grace Lin
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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.