cheetah

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noun chee·tah \ˈchē-tə\

Definition of cheetah

plural

cheetahs

also

cheetah

: a long-legged spotted swift-moving African and formerly Asian cat (Acinonyx jubatus) about the size of a small leopard that has blunt nonretractile claws

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Recent Examples of cheetah from the Web

Even though the T. Rex couldn't outrun a cheetah, its enormous body and frightening roar would be no match for most humans.

— Fox News, "'Jurassic Park' was a lie: T. Rex couldn't run fast, scientists say," 18 July 2017
Imageworks artists approached Venom (played by Topher Grace) as a savage predator whose behavior mirrored stalking animals like the cheetah.

— carolyn giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, "Spider-Man Villains: From Green Goblin to Vulture, The Secrets Behind Their Creation," 7 July 2017
Animal presentations: Have face-to-face contact with the park’s animal ambassadors, such as a cheetah, an alligator or a serval.

— carolina gusman, sandiegouniontribune.com, "San Diego Zoo Safari Park celebrates summer with global theme," 21 June 2017
Their grazing area looks tantalizingly close to the cheetah enclosure.

— meg jones, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Milwaukee zoo's newest species find their footing — and have issues with some of their neighbors," 21 June 2017
Farmers often shoot them on sight, but the Van Vuurens’ team will fly in, dart the cheetah and relocate it to Naankuse.

— amanda jones, latimes.com, "It's Namibia's purity, its untouched qualities, that compel people to visit, then never want to leave," 19 June 2017
There were giraffes, lemurs, monkeys, cheetahs, gazelles, antelope, and hyenas.

— denise coffey, Courant Community, "Little Theater On Broad Street Sells Out "Lion King Jr."," 15 June 2017
The large herbivores support five main predator species including lions, leopards, cheetahs, spotted hyenas and wild dogs.

— alex treadway, National Geographic, "UN Announces 23 New Nature Reserves While U.S. Removes 17," 14 June 2017
Animal lovers will have a new way to check out the cheetahs, giraffes, tortoises and snakes at the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Gardens this summer.

— martin e. comas, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Sanford to offer free shuttle service from SunRail station to zoo," 31 May 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'cheetah.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

A cheetah is a slender, long-legged cat that lives on the plains of Africa and in the Middle East, where it is threatened with extinction. It is the fastest land animal in the world over short distances and can reach a speed of 60 mph (100 kph). Its claws differ from those of other cats in being only partly retractable and lacking protective sheaths. Cheetahs purr rather than roar. Cheetahs grow to about 55 in. (140 cm) long, excluding the 29-31-in. (75-80-cm) tail, and weigh 110-130 lbs. (50-60 kg). Their coarse fur is sandy yellow above, white below, and covered with small black spots; a black streak runs down the face from the corner of each eye.

Illustration of cheetah

Origin and Etymology of cheetah

Hindi cītā & Urdu chītā leopard, from Sanskrit citraka, from citra bright, variegated; akin to Old High German heitar bright — more at -hood

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1610

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