lion

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A large wild cat of Africa and a small part of India, with a tawny coat; adult males usually have a heavy mane.

   Grammar: Countable; plural lions; the female is a lioness and the young are cubs.

   Patterns

   • a pride of lions
   • lion cub
   • male lion

   A male lion rested in the shade while the cubs played nearby.

   Lions hunt cooperatively in a pride.

   We saw a lion at the edge of the dry riverbed at dawn.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A person who is exceptionally brave, fierce, celebrated, or dominant in a field.

   Grammar: Figurative countable sense; often appears in the phrase the lion of plus a field.

   Patterns

   • a lion of the courtroom
   • literary lion
   • brave as a lion

   The lawyer was called the lion of the courtroom for her fearless cross-examinations.

   As a young actor, he was treated as a literary lion at the festival.

   She faced the board like a lion defending its cubs.

Word forms

Common combinations

lion's mane

The male’s lion’s mane grows darker and fuller with age.

lion cub

The lion cub stayed close to its mother.

pride of lions

A pride of lions gathered near the waterhole.

mountain lion

A mountain lion is a different wild cat, also called a cougar or puma.

Synonyms and how they differ

big cat

Big cat is a general category including lions, tigers, and leopards; lion is the specific animal.

lioness

Lioness means an adult female lion, not a synonym for all lions.

celebrity

Celebrity fits the figurative sense of a famous person but lacks the idea of bravery or dominance.

Opposites

Word family

lioness noun

An adult female lion.

lionize verb

To treat someone as a celebrity or object of great admiration.

leonine adjective

Like a lion in appearance, strength, or dignity; somewhat literary.

Commonly confused: lion or tiger? lion or leopard?

Practice

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