English Explanatory Dictionary

cheetah

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A distinctive member (Acinonyx jubatus) of the cat family, slightly smaller than the leopard, but with proportionately longer limbs and a smaller head; native to Africa and southeast Asia (where it is nearly extinct) and also credited with being the fastest terrestrial animal.

Pronunciation

/ˈt͡ʃiːtə/ /ˈt͡ʃiːtɑ/ LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-cheetah.wav

Word forms

cheetah cheetahs chetah cheeta

Etymology

Borrowed from Hindi चीता (cītā, “leopard, panther”), ultimately from Sanskrit चित्र (citra, “multicolored, speckled”) (akin to Old High German haitar (“bright”) > German heiter; Old Norse heiðr (“bright”)) + Sanskrit काय (kāya, “body”), thus “having a spotted body”.

Synonyms

guepard hunting cat hunting leopard

Derived words

American cheetah cheetahlike do cheetah flips giant cheetah king cheetah
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