Meaning & use
felines
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“felines” is a form of “feline”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
nounpluraltechnical
Members of the cat family, including domestic cats and big cats such as lions and tigers.
Grammar: Always plural in this use; the singular 'feline' means one such animal.
Patterns
- felines in the wild
- a group of felines
- large felines
The zoo's new enclosure houses several felines, including two snow leopards.
Researchers tracked the felines through the forest using radio collars.
Unlike dogs, most felines hunt alone and sleep for much of the day.
adjectivebefore a noun
Belonging to or typical of the cat family; catlike in appearance or movement.
Grammar: Comes before a noun: feline grace, feline eyes. It is not usually gradable.
Patterns
- feline grace
- feline features
- a feline walk
She moved with a feline grace that made everyone watch.
The mask had narrow feline eyes painted in gold.
His feline reflexes saved the glass before it hit the floor.
Word forms
| singular | feline |
|---|
Common combinations
- large felines
- Large felines like jaguars need huge territories to survive.
- wild felines
- Wild felines rarely approach villages unless food is scarce.
- feline grace
- The dancer crossed the stage with feline grace.
- feline features
- Her brother has the same feline features and green eyes.
- a family of felines
- A family of felines had made its den under the old barn.
- feline instincts
- Even a house cat keeps its feline instincts for hunting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- cats
- The everyday word; 'felines' sounds scientific or formal and includes lions, tigers and similar animals.
- cat family
- A looser everyday phrase for the same group; 'felines' is the shorter term used in biology writing.
- felids
- The strict scientific term for the same animal family; 'felines' is more familiar to general readers.
Word family
Commonly confused: felines or canines? felines or felons?
felines vs canines
'Canines' are dogs, wolves and similar animals; 'felines' are cats. Both words also name teeth, which can confuse learners.
felines vs felons
'Felons' are people convicted of serious crimes. It sounds close to 'felines' but has nothing to do with cats.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'felines' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Felines' means members of the cat family, so lions and tigers fit. Option 0 is wrong because dogs and rabbits are not cats, option 2 confuses the plural noun with the singular 'feline', and option 3 describes barking, which cats do not do.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “felines”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.