feline

[ fee-lahyn ]

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the cat family, Felidae.
2. catlike; characteristic of animals of the cat family:

   a feline tread.

3. sly, stealthy, or treacherous.

noun

1. an animal of the cat family.

feline

/ fɪˈlɪnɪtɪ; ˈfiːlaɪn /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Felidae , a family of predatory mammals, including cats, lions, leopards, and cheetahs, typically having a round head and retractile claws: order Carnivora (carnivores)
2. resembling or suggestive of a cat, esp in stealth or grace

noun

1. any animal belonging to the family Felidae ; a cat

feline

/ fē′līn′ /

1. Characteristic of or resembling felids.

Derived Forms

• ˈfelineness, noun
• ˈfelinely, adverb

Other Words From

• feline·ly adverb
• feline·ness fe·lin·i·ty [fi-, lin, -i-tee], noun
• un·feline adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of feline¹

1675–85; < Latin fēl ( ēs ) ( Felis ) + -ine ¹; compare Late Latin fēlīneus of a wild cat

Word History and Origins

Origin of feline¹

C17: from Latin fēlīnus , from fēlēs cat

Example Sentences

A cuddly feline friend is always and forever better than having toxic men in your life.

From Salon

An advocate for L.A.’s most famous feline, P-22, is asking why the puma can’t get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which has honorees including Lassie and Rin Tin Tin and fictional characters such as Batman and Godzilla.

From Los Angeles Times

A mountain lion spotted at the edge of Griffith Park last month recalled the park’s former feline king, P-22.

From Los Angeles Times

Kocourek put out food for a cat, but the feline hadn’t been seen in a while and she figured it had disappeared or was dead.

From Los Angeles Times

Perspective influences everything, and for the young people of Delhi, mindsets around feline welfare are rapidly changing.

From Salon