Lion Definition
līən
lions
noun
lions
A large carnivorous feline mammal (Panthera leo) of Africa and northwest India, having a short tawny coat, a tufted tail, and, in the male, a heavy mane around the neck and shoulders.
American Heritage
A person of great courage or strength.
Webster's New World
A mountain lion.
American Heritage
A prominent person who is in demand socially; celebrity.
Webster's New World
A noted person; a celebrity.
A literary lion.
American Heritage
Synonyms:
- leo
- social-lion
- Leo the Lion
- panthera-leo
- king-of-beasts
- lioness
- Asian cat
- African cat
- king of the jungle
- Felis leo (Latin)
- wildcats
- whelp
- lionel (young)
- king
- griffin
idiom
lion's share
- The greatest or best part.
American Heritage
beard the lion (in his den)
- to approach, oppose, etc. an influential or feared person, as in a place where that person has the advantage
Webster's New World
the Lion
- Leo, the constellation and fifth sign of the zodiac
Webster's New World
Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Lion
Origin of Lion
-
From Old French lion, from Latin leō, (genitive: leōnis), from Ancient Greek λέων (leōn), likely a borrowing from a Semitic language; compare Proto-Semitic *labiʾ-. Many ancient languages possessed similar words for lion, including Akkadian 𒌨 (labbu) . It is unclear as to who borrowed the word from whom, though the ultimate source is likely non-Indo-European.
From Wiktionary
-
Middle English from Old French from Latin leō leōn- from Greek leōn of Semitic origin lbℵ in Semitic roots
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
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