/ ˈlaɪən; NAmE / noun
a large powerful animal of the cat family, that hunts in groups and lives in parts of Africa and southern Asia. Lions have yellowish-brown fur and the male has a mane (= long thick hair round its neck).
—see also mountain lion
—compare lioness
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IDIOMS
- the lion's den
- the lion's share (of sth)
—more at beard verb
—see also the British Lions
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Anglo-Norman French liun , from Latin leo , leon- , from Greek leōn , leont- .