tiger
pronunciation
How to pronounce tiger in British English:
UK [ˈtaɪɡə(r)]
How to pronounce tiger in American English:
US [ˈtaɪɡər]
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- Noun:
- a fierce or audacious person
- large feline of forests in most of Asia having a tawny coat with black stripes; endangered
Word Origin
- tiger
- tiger: [13] English got tiger via Old French tigre and Latin tigris from Greek tígris, a word presumably of oriental origin. It was originally taken over directly from Latin in the Old English period as tigras, but this did not survive.
- tiger (n.)
- Old English tigras (plural), also in part from Old French tigre "tiger" (mid-12c.), both from Latin tigris "tiger," from Greek tigris, possibly from an Iranian source akin to Old Persian tigra- "sharp, pointed," Avestan tighri- "arrow," in reference to its springing on its prey, "but no application of either word, or any derivative, to the tiger is known in Zend." [OED]. Of tiger-like persons from c. 1500. The meaning "shriek or howl at the end of a cheer" is recorded from 1845, American English, and is variously explained. Tiger's-eye "yellowish-brown quartz" is recorded from 1886.
Example
- 1. Can you find the hidden tiger in this picture ?
- 2. We should welcome the tiger and the dragon as talismans .
- 3. That is a tiger right ?
- 4. There 's a tiger in my tree .
- 5. Saving the tiger should be good business sense .