leopard

leop-ard · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A large wild cat (Panthera pardus) native to Africa and Asia, having a yellowish-brown coat with black spots arranged in rosettes.

  2. 2.

    The fur or pelt of a leopard.

  3. 3.

    (heraldry) A lion represented in profile, walking with one forepaw raised.

Forms

plural: leopards

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    a leopard can't change its spots — people cannot change their fundamental nature
  • •
    leopard print — a pattern imitating a leopard's spotted coat
  • •
    snow leopard — a related species (Panthera uncia) found in Central Asian mountains

Related words

See also: cheetah, jaguar, lion, panther, tiger
Synonyms: panther

Etymology

From Old French leopart, from Late Latin leopardus, from Greek leopardos, a compound of leon ("lion") + pardos ("panther"). The ancient Greeks believed leopards were hybrids of lions and panthers.