ˈlīən noun
( -s )
Usage: often attributive
Etymology: Middle English leon, lion, from Old French, from Latin leon-, leo, from Greek leōn, probably of non-Indo-European origin
1.
a. : a large carnivorous chiefly nocturnal mammal ( Felis leo ) of the cat family that is now found mostly in open or rocky areas of Africa but also in southern Asia and that has a tawny body with a tufted tail and a shaggy blackish or dark brown mane in the male
b. : any of several other animals of the genus Felis ; especially : cougar
2. : a person felt to resemble a lion especially in courage, ferocity, dignity, or dominance
he that trusts to you, where he should find you lions, finds you hares — Shakespeare
they tame the lions in the Army, not appease them — James Jones
outsmarted the other old financial lions — Meridel Le Sueur
3.
a. usually capitalized : a lion that is a symbol of a country, people, or individual
British Lion
Lion of Judah
Lion of St. Mark
b. : a heraldic representation of a lion rampant
4. : any of several old coins bearing the figure of a lion (as a gold coin of Philip VI of France) — see saint andrew
5.
a. lions plural , Britain
(1) : the principal sights of a city or country
(2) obsolete : the world or experience of the world
b. : a person who is a center of attention or an object of admiration, interest, or curiosity
they were fountains of interesting gossip, and the lions of the meal — Arnold Bennett
one must certainly have the lion of the moment at one's parties — Victoria Sackville-West
6. : a light to moderate yellowish brown
7. usually capitalized
[ Lions (club) ]
: a member of one of the major service clubs
8. : a cub scout of the fourth rank comprising boys at least 10 years old
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- lion in the way
- lion's mouth
- lion's share