| 释义 |
ti·ger
I. \ˈtīgə(r)\ noun
(plural tigers also tiger)
Etymology: Middle English tigre, from Old English tiger & Old French tigre, both from Latin tigris, from Greek, of Iranian origin; akin to Avestan tighri- arrow, tighra- pointed; akin to Sanskrit tejate it is sharp — more at stick
1.
a. : a large Asiatic carnivorous mammal (Felis tigris) having a tawny coat transversely striped with black, a long untufted tail that is ringed with black, underparts that are mostly white, and no mane, being typically slightly larger than the lion with a total length usually of 9 to 10 feet but sometimes of more than 12 feet, living usually on the ground, feeding mostly on larger mammals (as cattle), in some cases including man, and ranging from Persia across Asia to the Malay peninsula, Sumatra, and Java and northward to southern Siberia and Manchuria — compare bengal tiger, saber-toothed tiger
b. : any of several large felid mammals: as
(1) Africa : leopard
(2) : jaguar
(3) : cougar
c. : a domestic cat with a striped pattern : tiger cat
d. Australia : tasmanian wolf
e. : tiger snake
f. : any of several strong vigorous aggressive fishes: as
(1) : tiger shark
(2) Africa : a large grunt (Pomadasys operculare) of the Indian ocean that is highly esteemed as a sport and food fish
(3) : a fish that is a hybrid between the muskellunge and pike
2.
a. : a representation of a tiger usually as a symbol or badge (as of an organization)
b. often capitalized : any of several organizations having a tiger as a recognized emblem; also : a member of such an organization
3.
a. : a person or sometimes an animal of fierce and bloodthirsty ways
b. : fierce tigerish quality or aspect
< aroused the tiger in his nature >
c. : a person vigorously aggressive and usually highly skilled in some activity (as a sport or military combat)
4. Britain
a. : a groom in livery; especially : a young or small groom who rides usually standing on a platform at the rear of a vehicle (as a dogcart) driven by the person on whom he is in attendance
b. : a dissolute or vulgar fellow : swaggerer, bully, rake
5.
a.
(1) : big cat
(2) : little cat
b.
(1) : faro
(2) : faro bank
6. : a loud cry often of the word tiger that terminates a round of enthusiastic cheering (as at a political or sports rally)
7. slang : blind tiger
 [tiger 1a]
II. noun
: one (as a situation) that is formidable or impossible to control
< how the tiger of inflation can be tamed — J.A.Davenport >
— often used in the phrases ride a tiger and have a tiger by the tail |