cheetah

/'tʃi:tə/
Học thuật
Thân thiện
cheetah

A cheetah sprints across the grassy savanna.

Definition
  1. Noun:
    • A large, long-legged, spotted feline of Africa and southwestern Asia: The cheetah is a distinctive cat species characterized by its slender build, black "tear marks" running from the eyes to the mouth, and a coat covered in solid black spots.
    • The fastest land mammal: The cheetah is renowned for its incredible speed, capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) in just a few seconds during a chase, though it can only maintain this top speed for short distances.
    • A cat with non-retractable claws: Unlike most other cats, a cheetah's claws are only semi-retractable, providing extra grip like the cleats on a running shoe, which aids in its high-speed pursuits.
Examples of Usage
  • Noun:
    • The cheetah is perfectly adapted for speed, with a lightweight frame and a long tail for balance.
    • We saw a cheetah resting in the shade after an unsuccessful hunt.
    • Conservation efforts are crucial for protecting the endangered cheetah.
Advanced Usage
  • "Cheetah" as a symbol of speed: The word is often used metaphorically to describe exceptional speed.
    • The new sports car was a cheetah on the racetrack.
  • Historical usage in hunting: Historically, in some regions like India and Persia, cheetahs were trained for coursing game, such as antelope.
    • The Mughal emperors were known to keep trained cheetahs for hunting.
Variants and Related Words
  • Acinonyx jubatus (n): The scientific name for the cheetah.
  • Cheetah cub (n): A young cheetah.
  • King cheetah (n): A rare variant with a different fur pattern featuring larger, blotchy spots and stripes, once thought to be a separate species.
Synonyms
  • Hunting leopard: An older, less common name for the cheetah, referencing its historical use in hunting.
  • Swift cat: A descriptive synonym emphasizing its primary characteristic.
Related Phrases
  • "Cheetah sprint": A phrase used to describe a very short, explosive burst of speed.
    • The player made a cheetah sprint to intercept the ball.
  • "Like a cheetah": A simile used to describe something or someone moving with great speed and grace.
    • She ran like a cheetah to catch the bus.
Related Idioms
  • "To have the speed of a cheetah": To be extremely fast.
    • In his prime, the sprinter seemed to have the speed of a cheetah.
cheetah

A cheetah sprints across the grassy savanna.

Noun
  1. long-legged spotted cat of Africa and southwestern Asia having nonretractile claws; the swiftest mammal; can be trained to run down game

Từ đồng nghĩa

Từ gần giống