lion
LEYE-uhn
Lion (noun) means a large, powerfully built wild cat native to Africa and parts of India, the male typically having a shaggy mane. Example: “At the zoo, the children watched a lion sleeping in the sun.”
noun
1
A large, powerfully built wild cat native to Africa and parts of India, the male typically having a shaggy mane.
"At the zoo, the children watched a lion sleeping in the sun."
"The lion roared from the top of the rock."
"A pride of lions rested in the shade."
2
A person admired for courage, strength, or ferocity, or a celebrity attracting great attention.
"The old coach was a lion in the sport, respected by everyone."
"He fought like a lion to defend his family."
"The visiting author was treated as the lion of the literary party."
How to use lion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe big cat known as king of the jungle — or, figuratively, someone bold or much admired.
Common pairings
a pride of lions
roar like a lion
the lion's share
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Word forms
- Plural
- lions
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At the zoo, the children watched a _____ sleeping in the sun.
Etymology
From Old French lion, from Latin leo, from Greek leōn, of unclear ultimate origin. It replaced the native Old English word leo.
Related words
Rhymes for lion
region
ablation
allusion
emulsion
ideation
novation
diffusion
elocution
extension
oxidation
perfusion
selection
See all rhymes for lion →
Frequently asked questions
What does “lion” mean?
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.
How do you pronounce “lion”?
“Lion” is pronounced LEYE-uhn (/ˈlaɪən/ in IPA).
How do you use “lion” in a sentence?
Here is “lion” used in a sentence: “The lion roared from the top of the rock.”
What part of speech is “lion”?
“Lion” is a noun.
Where does the word “lion” come from?
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.
Is “lion” a common word?
“Lion” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “lion” have?
“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.
What is the difference between a lion and a lioness?
"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.
What is the difference between a lion and a tiger?
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.
When is a person described as a "lion"?
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.
What is a group of lions called?
A group of lions living together is called a pride. This social grouping distinguishes lions from most other big cats, which are largely solitary.
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