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noun

lynx

lihngks

Lynx (noun) means a medium-sized wild cat with tufted ears and a short tail, found in forests across the Northern Hemisphere. Example: “A lynx can be identified by the black tufts on the tips of its ears.”

noun
1
A medium-sized wild cat with tufted ears and a short tail, found in forests across the Northern Hemisphere.
"A lynx can be identified by the black tufts on the tips of its ears."
"Conservationists have reintroduced the Eurasian lynx to parts of Europe."

How to use lynx

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA wild cat known for its tufted ears, short tail, and keen eyesight.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
Eurasian lynx lynx population a prowling lynx

Word forms

lynx plural, lynxes plural

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Test yourself on “lynx” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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A _____ can be identified by the black tufts on the tips of its ears.

Etymology

From Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek lunx, ultimately from a root meaning "light" or "bright" — likely a reference to the animal's glowing eyes.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Frequently asked questions

What does “lynx” mean?

The word “lynx” means a medium-sized wild cat with tufted ears and a short tail, found in forests across the Northern Hemisphere. In plain terms, a wild cat known for its tufted ears, short tail, and keen eyesight.

How do you pronounce “lynx”?

“Lynx” is pronounced lihngks (/lɪŋks/ in IPA).

How do you use “lynx” in a sentence?

Here is “lynx” used in a sentence: “A lynx can be identified by the black tufts on the tips of its ears.”

What part of speech is “lynx”?

“Lynx” is a noun.

Where does the word “lynx” come from?

The word “lynx” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin lynx, from Ancient Greek lunx, ultimately from a root meaning "light" or "bright" — likely a reference to the animal's glowing eyes.

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