lion

li·on

noun \ˈlī-ən\

plural lions

Definition of LION

1

a or plural lion : a large heavily built social cat (Panthera leo) of open or rocky areas chiefly of sub-Saharan Africa though once widely distributed throughout Africa and southern Asia that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male b : any of several large wildcats; especially : cougar 1 c capitalized : leo

2

a : a person felt to resemble a lion (as in courage or ferocity) b : a person of outstanding interest or importance <a literary lion>

3

capitalized [Lions (club)] : a member of a major national and international service club

— li·on·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of LION

1. the roar of the lion
2. He was a literary lion among the writers of his time.

Origin of LION

Middle English lioun, from Anglo-French leun, lion, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn

First Known Use: 12th century

Related to LION

Synonyms: baron, captain, czar (also tsar or tzar), king, magnate, lord, mogul, monarch, Napoleon, prince, tycoon

Related Words: big boy, big cheese, bigfoot, biggie, big gun, big shot, big wheel, bigwig, fat cat, figure, heavy, heavyweight, honcho, kahuna, main man, mover and shaker, nabob, nawab, notable, personage, pooh-bah (also poo-bah), supremo [chiefly British], VIP; celebrity, personality, star, superstar; deity, demigod, god

Near Antonyms: half-pint, lightweight, small-timer; inferior, subordinate, underling; nobody, nothing, zero

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