tiger shark

noun

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of tiger shark

: a large gray or brown stocky-bodied requiem shark (Galeocerdo cuvieri) that is nearly cosmopolitan especially in warm seas and can be dangerous to humans — see shark illustration

See tiger shark defined for kids

Recent Examples of tiger shark from the Web

The last shark attack in Hawaii occurred New Year's Eve when North Shore resident Marjorie Mariano was bitten by a 10- to 12-foot tiger shark while surfing.

— rob shikina, Anchorage Daily News, "Shark bumps Hawaii man off a stand-up paddleboard, then attacks," 2 Apr. 2018
Ocearch is an organization that generates data on sharks, specifically great white and tiger sharks.

— brett clarkson, Sun-Sentinel.com, "A great white shark named George is lingering at edge of the Everglades," 6 Feb. 2018
Ocearch is an organization that generates data on sharks, specifically great white and tiger sharks, the group’s web site says.

— brett clarkson, Sun-Sentinel.com, "Great white shark lurking a mile off South Florida's coast," 16 Jan. 2018
The two-woman crew sent out distress signals for 98 days but did not receive a response, and endured two separate attacks from groups of tiger sharks that rammed their boat.

— jason duaine hahn, PEOPLE.com, "Women Rescued After Five Months at Sea Admit They Had Rescue Beacon They Did Not Use," 31 Oct. 2017
One day, the women recalled, a pack of tiger sharks found them.

— eli rosenberg, Washington Post, "Lost sailors who braved sharks, squalls and months at sea finally reach land," 30 Oct. 2017
Most become known when their intimate encounters with apex predators—such as wolves, brown bears, and tiger sharks—go viral.

— sarah gold, Slate Magazine, "Step Away From the Lion," 3 Jan. 2017
Another recent study documented just how many strange things tiger sharks manage to consume.

— ben panko, Smithsonian, "Ten Things We’ve Learned about Sharks Since Last Shark Week," 27 July 2017
One night, a group of tiger sharks began attacking their vessel, and the next morning, a shark returned and rammed the boat again, Appel said.

— Washington Post, "Sailboat survivors recount doomed Pacific voyage," 28 Oct. 2017

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