feline

[ fee-lahyn ]
/ ˈfi laɪn /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the cat family, Felidae.
catlike; characteristic of animals of the cat family: a feline tread.
sly, stealthy, or treacherous.

noun

an animal of the cat family.

Origin of feline

1675–85; < Latin fēl(ēs) (see Felis) + -ine1; compare Late Latin fēlīneus of a wild cat

OTHER WORDS FROM feline

fe·line·ly, adverb fe·line·ness, fe·lin·i·ty [fi-lin-i-tee] /fɪˈlɪn ɪ ti/, noun un·fe·line, adjective

Example sentences from the Web for feline

British Dictionary definitions for feline

feline
/ (ˈfiːlaɪn) /

adjective

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)
resembling or suggestive of a cat, esp in stealth or grace

noun Also: felid (ˈfiːlɪd)

any animal belonging to the family Felidae; a cat

Derived forms of feline

felinely, adverb felineness or felinity (fɪˈlɪnɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for feline

C17: from Latin fēlīnus, from fēlēs cat

Scientific definitions for feline

feline
[ fēlīn′ ]

Characteristic of or resembling felids.