lion

The word “lion” means a large, powerfully built wild cat native to Africa and parts of India, the male typically having a shaggy mane. In plain terms, the big cat known as king of the jungle — or, figuratively, someone bold or much admired.

“Lion” is pronounced LEYE-uhn (/ˈlaɪən/ in IPA).

Here is “lion” used in a sentence: “The lion roared from the top of the rock.”

“Lion” is a noun.

The word “lion” comes from Latin. From Old French lion, from Latin leo, from Greek leōn, of unclear ultimate origin. It replaced the native Old English word leo.

“Lion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.

“Lion” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, powerfully built wild cat native to Africa and parts of India, the male typically having a shaggy mane.

"Lion" can name the species in general or, specifically, the adult male, which typically has a shaggy mane. A "lioness" is the adult female, which lacks a mane and often does most of the hunting within the group.

Both are large, powerfully built wild cats, but the lion is native to Africa and parts of India, and the male usually has a shaggy mane. Tigers are striped, native to Asia, and, unlike the social lion, tend to live alone.

A person is called a lion when they are admired for courage, strength, or ferocity, or when they are a celebrity attracting great attention. For example, a "literary lion" is a famous, highly respected writer.

A group of lions living together is called a pride. This social grouping distinguishes lions from most other big cats, which are largely solitary.