Tiger Definition and Usage: Real Examples and Popular Phrases

When used in speech, a definition is easier to remember. Examine the following sentences to understand how “tiger” works in actual communication.

Few words can serve as direct substitutes for “tiger,” yet you can enrich your writing by naming specific types such as the Bengal tiger or the white tiger. There is also a figurative meaning of the word to refer to a person who is daring, fierce, or brave.

Related nouns: stripes claws whiskers roar

Synonyms (contextual): big cat

Common collocations: wild tiger Bengal tiger tiger cub tiger skin

Knowing phrases that have various parts of speech will enable you to explain how a tiger appears, how it moves and where it is located.

With adjectives: small tiger big tiger old tiger young tiger

With verbs: tiger drinks tiger roars tiger eats tiger runs

With nouns (noun + noun): tiger toy tiger teeth tiger eyes

Terms including a“tiger” in English indicate cultural conceptions as well as the characteristics of the animal, such as courage or power. Learn how to use them in your writing by seeing the definitions and examples.

• As wild as a tiger — a term used to describe someone who is fierce, brave or prepared to do anything whenever.

  Marcus went into the debate as wild as a tiger, full of himself and no one could stop him.

• Paper tiger is a phrase to describe something or someone that seems dangerous when, in fact, it is weak or harmless.

  This company appeared threatening, yet, in fact, it was just a paper tiger.

• Ride a tiger — to be in a dangerous or perilous position where escaping is hard.

  Going into that business without experience was like riding the tiger; a single slip can get everything spoiled.

• Eye of the tiger — phrase popularized by a song and a movie Rocky, means the utmost daring, determination, or concentration.

  Sindy was practicing daily with the eye of the tiger as she was determined to be a champion.

Check your familiarity with the term “tiger” by doing these exercises, which aim to demonstrate its different applications.

Originating from the Latin tigris and older roots in Greek and Persian, the word tiger has kept a familiar shape in most languages. Explore its spelling in French, Spanish, and German.

Behind every mighty roar, there’s a story. Here are some tiger facts that might just make you see them in a new light.

• Tigers are able to roar so that the ground shakes.

  The roar of tigers can be heard as far as 3 kilometers. Not so much to show off, it is a signal to competitors and means to establish a position.

• They are nocturnal predators, whose vision is of the highest quality.

  Tigers like hunting at night, where they see six times better than human beings. That is why they are sneaky predators and attack when nobody anticipates it.

• They have a stripe as distinctive as the fingerprint.

  Each tiger is striped in a unique pattern, and there are no two exactly alike. The stripes are the camouflage in high grasses and any tiger can be easily recognized by the researchers similar to a natural barcode.

• Video games and films preserve the spirit of the tiger.

  Thanks to Shere Khan in The Jungle Book and to the majestic white tiger of the Life of Pi, tigers have left their pawprints on pop culture. They are represented in most games as a beacon of power and strength and their reputation continues to be as loud as ever in the virtual jungle.

These famous quotes help define a “tiger,” showing how literature and culture portray its strength, courage, and wild spirit.