tiger

[tahy-ger]

noun

plural

tigers, tiger 

1. 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.

2. the cougar, jaguar, thylacine, or other animal resembling the tiger.

3. a person resembling a tiger in fierceness, courage, etc.

4. a country that is considered to have a tiger economy.

   Taiwan is one of the four Asian tigers.

5. an additional cheer (often the wordtiger ) at the end of a round of cheering.

6. any of several strong, voracious fishes, as a sand shark.

7. any of numerous animals with stripes similar to a tiger's.

adjective

1. noting or relating to a strict parenting style that demands academic excellence and obedience from children, associated especially with East Asians.

   a tiger mom; tiger parenting.

tiger

¹

/ ˈtaɪɡə /

noun

1. a large feline mammal, Panthera tigris, of forests in most of Asia, having a tawny yellow coat with black stripes

2. (not in technical use) any of various other animals, such as the jaguar, leopard, and thylacine

3. a dynamic, forceful, or cruel person

4. 1. a country, esp in E Asia, that is achieving rapid economic growth

   2. ( as modifier )

      a tiger economy

5. archaic,  a servant in livery, esp a page or groom

6. short for tiger moth

7. slang,  a ten-rand note

8. informal,  to find oneself in a situation that has turned out to be much more difficult to control than one had expected

Tiger

²

/ ˈtaɪɡə /

noun

1. See TIGR

Other Word Forms

• tigerishness noun
• tiger-like adjective
• tigerishly adverb
• tigerish adjective
• tigerlike adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of tiger¹

before 1000; Middle English tigre, Old English tīgras (plural) < Latin tīgris, tigris < Greek tígris

Word History and Origins

Origin of tiger¹

C13: from Old French tigre, from Latin tigris, from Greek, of Iranian origin

Example Sentences

He said Russia was a “paper tiger” and that it had bragged about winning the war in a week, but was still in Ukraine three and a half years later.

From Salon

The US president also described Russia as a "paper tiger" that had been "fighting aimlessly in Ukraine."

From BBC

"Russia's in no way a tiger," Mr Peskov to a Russian radio station.

From BBC

His dismissal of Russia as a "paper tiger" and not a "real military power" will hurt President Putin, who is sensitive to any suggestion his country is not a global player.

From BBC

Online ravings about “tiger blood” and “winning!” earned him a Live Nation tour with a cry for help as its title: “My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option.”

From Salon

Related Words

• cougar 
• cub 
• leopard 
• lynx