feline

American  

[fee-lahyn] / ˈfi laɪn /

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.

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noun

1. an animal of the cat family.

feline British  

/ 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

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noun

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

feline Scientific  

/ fē′līn′ /

1. Characteristic of or resembling felids.

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Other Word Forms

• felinely adverb
• felineness noun
• felinity noun
• unfeline adjective

Etymology

Origin of feline

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