noun
tapir
TAY-per
Tapir (noun) means an odd-toed hoofed mammal of the genus Tapirus, with a long flexible upper lip. Example: “The tapir used its long upper lip to pull leaves towards its mouth.”
noun
1
An odd-toed hoofed mammal of the genus Tapirus, with a long flexible upper lip.
"The tapir used its long upper lip to pull leaves towards its mouth."
"We watched a tapir at the zoo."
"Several species of tapir are found in the wild."
How to use tapir
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large hoofed animal with a short flexible snout.
When to use it
It is a neutral word, used in everyday and zoological writing.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
Malayan tapir
mountain tapir
Baird's tapir
lowland tapir
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The _____ used its long upper lip to pull leaves towards its mouth.
Etymology
The word was borrowed into English from French tapir, which came from the Old Tupi word tapi'ira.
Frequently asked questions
What is a tapir?
A tapir is an odd-toed hoofed mammal of the genus Tapirus, with a long prehensile upper lip.
Where does the word tapir come from?
English took it from French, which took it from the Old Tupi word tapi'ira.
Is tapir pronounced like taper?
One common pronunciation of tapir sounds the same as taper, though other pronunciations also exist.
What is the meaning of tapir?
"tapir" (noun) means an odd-toed hoofed mammal of the genus Tapirus, with a long flexible upper lip.
