tiger

tiger — noun

1. a large Asian wild cat whose orange coat is marked with bold black stripes, livi

1.nounA2
Definition

a large Asian wild cat whose orange coat is marked with bold black stripes, living mainly in forests

Example

Felix saw a tiger sleeping under a tree during his trip to India.

The tiger at the zoo paced back and forth near the water.

Common collocations
  • Bengal tiger
  • Siberian tiger
  • tiger cub
  • tiger habitat
  • endangered tiger
  • striped tiger
Synonyms
  • big cat

    a more general term that includes lions, leopards, and jaguars as well

Common Mistakes

There are only a little tigers left in the wild.
There are only a few tigers left in the wild.
Tiger is a countable noun, so use 'few' not 'little'.

2. a person who shows great energy, determination, and an aggressive spirit when fi

2.nounB2
Definition

a person who shows great energy, determination, and an aggressive spirit when fighting for something or competing against others

Example

In the business world, you have to be a tiger to survive.

Tara is a real tiger when it comes to defending her team's work.

collocation: a real tiger

Common collocations
  • a real tiger
  • a tiger in court
  • a tiger on the field
  • a tiger at negotiations
Synonyms
  • fighter

    less metaphorical and more neutral in tone

  • go-getter

    more positive, emphasises ambition rather than fierceness

  • warrior

    more dramatic, suggesting a battle context

Antonyms
  • pushover

    someone who is easily defeated or influenced

Grammar Patterns

a [adjective] tiger

a tiger in [domain]

Usage Note

Common in sports, business, and other competitive contexts. Always metaphorical — compares a person's determination to the animal's fierceness. The noun cannot be used as a verb.

Common Mistakes

She tigered through the competition.
She was a tiger in the competition.
Tiger is only used as a noun, not a verb.

Word family

  • tigress
    nounC1
  • tigerish
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

While tiger, fighter, go-getter, warrior, and bulldog all describe a determined person, they differ in tone and context. Fighter is the most neutral term — it simply describes someone who does not give up easily. Go-getter is more positive and career-focused, describing someone who actively pursues success. Warrior is more dramatic, suggesting a sense of battle or struggle. Bulldog implies stubbornness and a refusal to let go, while tiger emphasises raw energy, aggression, and speed. For example: 'She is a real fighter after the accident' (admiring recovery) versus 'She is a tiger in negotiations' (describing aggressive tactics).

fightergo-getterwarriorbulldog

Etymology

Ancient IranianGreekLatinOld FrenchEnglish

The word tiger comes from Greek tigris, which was borrowed from an ancient Iranian language. The Iranian root may be related to a word meaning 'arrow', referring to the animal's great speed. The word passed into Latin as tigris, then into Old French as tigre, and finally into English.