taipan
Taipan (noun) means a foreign business executive or tycoon, especially historically in China. Example: “The old taipan ran his trading firm from a Hong Kong office overlooking the harbor.”
How to use taipan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a powerful foreign businessman in old China, or a dangerous species of Australian snake — context makes it obvious which.
Word forms
taipans plural, taipans plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old _____ ran his trading firm from a Hong Kong office overlooking the harbor.
Etymology
From Cantonese 大班 (daai⁶ baan¹, "big shot, head of a firm"), related to the word tycoon.
Rhymes for taipan
See all rhymes for taipan →Frequently asked questions
What does “taipan” mean?
The word “taipan” means a foreign business executive or tycoon, especially historically in China. In plain terms, either a powerful foreign businessman in old China, or a dangerous species of Australian snake — context makes it obvious which.
How do you pronounce “taipan”?
“Taipan” is pronounced TEYE-pan (/ˈtaɪpæn/ in IPA).
How do you use “taipan” in a sentence?
Here is “taipan” used in a sentence: “The old taipan ran his trading firm from a Hong Kong office overlooking the harbor.”
What part of speech is “taipan”?
“Taipan” is a noun.
Where does the word “taipan” come from?
The word “taipan” comes from Cantonese. From Cantonese 大班 (daai⁶ baan¹, "big shot, head of a firm"), related to the word tycoon.
How many meanings does “taipan” have?
“Taipan” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a foreign business executive or tycoon, especially historically in China.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include taipan: