leop·ard
 leopard
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- pronunciation:
- le
p
rd
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
noun |
| definition: |
a large mammal with short yellow or gray fur and black spots. Leopards with very dark fur are called black leopards or panthers. They live in southern Asia and Africa but are threatened or endangered in all their habitats. Leopards are carnivores and are closely related to lions, tigers, and other big cats that roar.
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cat |
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Leopard comes from a combination of two ancient Greek words that mean "lion" and "male panther." The ancient Greeks thought a leopard was the offspring of a lion and a panther.