Definition of tiger
tigers
1 plural also tiger a : a large Asian carnivorous mammal (Panthera tigris) of the cat family having a usually tawny coat transversely striped with blackb : any of several large wildcats (such as the jaguar or cougar)c : a domestic cat with striped patternd Australia : tasmanian tiger
2a : a fierce, daring, or aggressive person or quality aroused the tiger in him a tiger for workb : someone or something (such as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control how the tiger of inflation can be tamed — J. A. Davenport —often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail
3 British : a groom in livery
tigerishly
adverbtigerishness
nounExplore Merriam-Webster
Examples of tiger in a Sentence
He was a tiger on the basketball court.
even the best defense can't keep that tiger from scoring
Illustration of tiger
Origin and Etymology of tiger
Middle English tigre, from Old English tiger & Anglo-French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Greek, probably of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan tighra- pointed; akin to Greek stizein to tattoo — more at stick
TIGER Defined for English Language Learners
tiger
playDefinition of tiger for English Language Learners
-
: a large, wild cat that has a coat of usually yellow or orange fur and black stripes and that lives in Asia
-
: a striped cat that lives with people
-
: a person who is very fierce or aggressive
TIGER Defined for Kids
tiger
playDefinition of tiger for Students
: a large Asian meat-eating animal of the cat family that is light brown with black stripes
Learn More about tiger
-
See words that rhyme with tiger Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for tiger Spanish Central: Translation of tiger Nglish: Translation of tiger for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of tiger for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tiger
Seen and Heard
What made you want to look up tiger? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Writing? Check your grammar now!