lion

A1 Topic:Animals

US /ˈlaɪən/ See IPA manual

Freq #2867

Meanings

1

noun
A large wild cat with a tan coat, the males having a shaggy mane, native to Africa and India.

The lion roared across the open plain.
2

noun
A brave or strong person.

He fought like a lion to protect his family.

Thesaurus

Word family

Forms lionesslionlikelions

Derived forms antliondandeliondemilionjaglionleoponligerliligerlion-heartedlion-heartedlylionburgerlionesquelioness

Related forms chameleonleoleonleonidsleonine

Etymology

From Middle English lyoun, lion, leon, borrowed from Old French lion, from Latin leō, (accusative: leōnem), from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), of unclear origin. Doublet of Leo, leu, lev, and Lyon. Displaced Old English lēo, from the same Latin source.

lyoun Middle English lion Old French leō Latin λέων Ancient Greek

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# lion

**Type:** Word
**Level:** A1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈlaɪən/
**Frequency rank:** 2867

## Meanings
1. A large wild cat with a tan coat, the males having a shaggy mane, native to Africa and India.
2. A brave or strong person.

## Examples
- The lion roared across the open plain.
- He fought like a lion to protect his family.

## Derived Forms
- antlion
- dandelion
- demilion
- jaglion
- leopon
- liger
- liliger
- lion-hearted
- lion-heartedly
- lionburger
- lionesque
- lioness

## Related Forms
- chameleon
- leo
- leon
- leonids
- leonine

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: lyoun
- Root: lion
- Root: leō
- Root: λέων

## Etymology
From Middle English lyoun, lion, leon, borrowed from Old French lion, from Latin leō, (accusative: leōnem), from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), of unclear origin. Doublet of Leo, leu, lev, and Lyon. Displaced Old English lēo, from the same Latin source.

## AI Etymology
Lion comes from Middle English lyoun, lion, leon, borrowed from Old French lion, from Latin leō, (accusative: leōnem), from Ancient Greek λέων (léōn), of unclear origin. Doublet of Leo, leu, lev, and Lyon. Displaced Old English lēo, from the same Latin source. In present-day English its meanings include a large wild cat with a tan coat, the males having a shaggy mane, native to Africa and India and a brave or strong person. The historical chain runs through lyoun (Middle English), lion (Old French), leō (Latin), and λέων (Ancient Greek). Related and derived forms include chameleon, leo, leon, and antlion.

## Topics
- Animals

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lion

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