lynx
noun
\ ˈliŋ(k)s
\
\
plural lynx
or lynxes
Definition of lynx
1
: any of several wildcats with relatively long legs, a short stubby tail, mottled coat, and usually tufted ears that are thought to comprise a distinct genus (Lynx) of the cat family or to be part of a genus (Felis) that includes the domestic cat and cougar: such as
a
: a lynx (L. lynx) of northern Europe and Asia
b
: bobcat
c
: a North American lynx (L. canadensis) distinguished from the bobcat by its larger size, longer tufted ears, and wholly black tail tip
— called also Canadian lynx
2
Lynx, astronomy
: a dim northern constellation that is visible between the constellations of Ursa Major and Gemini and that is represented by the figure of a lynx
… Johannes Hevelius named this new constellation Lynx because only an observer with "the eyes of a lynx" could see its faint shape.— Richard Berry
Illustration of lynx
Examples of lynx in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The zoo houses Arctic and sub-Arctic animals including polar bears, Amur tigers, wolves and lynx, and cares for orphaned and injured wildlife. — Anchorage Daily News, "Photos: Behind the scenes at the Alaska Zoo," 17 Aug. 2019 The top 20 animal groups seized most often range from endemic bears and lynx to the more exotic elephants and primates. — National Geographic, "In the Alaska-Yukon wilderness, wildlife crime fighters face a daunting task," 25 June 2019 The three-month-old Canada lynx has been cared for by his mother out of public view since his May 12 birth. — Zekriah Chaudhry, Twin Cities, "Minnesota Zoo welcomes lynx kitten to his new home," 9 Aug. 2019 British lynx disappeared around 700 A.D., due to hunting and habitat destruction. — Brigit Katz, Smithsonian, "Wolves and Bears Are Being Returned to a Rare Patch of Ancient Woodland in Britain," 23 July 2019 Wealth beneath the wilderness The Boundary Waters hold a special place in American geography: More than a million acres of lakes and forests provide a rich habitat for thousands of species, including the gray wolf and Canada lynx. — Steve Eder, New York Times, "A Plan to Mine the Minnesota Wilderness Hit a Dead End. Then Trump Became President.," 25 June 2019 Caracals, which are similar to a lynx, are typically found in regions of Africa and northwest India and can weigh anywhere between 25-40 pounds, according to the Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute. — Joelle Goldstein, PEOPLE.com, "Mother and Daughter Attacked by Exotic Cat After Animal Escapes from an Illinois Home," 24 June 2019 About two-thirds of the Exclusion Zone is a wildlife reserve, populated by increasing numbers of wolves, foxes, lynxes, wild pigs, deer and moose. — Dallas News, "Decades after nuclear disaster, tourism is booming at Chernobyl," 18 June 2019 And Canada lynx have been gone since 1992, according to records kept by UW-Stevens Point. — Paul A. Smith, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Smith: When it comes to wildcats in Wisconsin, bobcats are king," 5 June 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'lynx.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
More Definitions for lynx
lynx
noun
English Language Learners Definition of lynx
: a large wild cat of North America
See the full definition for lynx in the English Language Learners Dictionary
lynx
noun
\ ˈliŋks
\
\
plural lynx
or lynxes
Kids Definition of lynx
: any of several wildcats with rather long legs, a short tail, and often ears with tufts of long hairs at the tip
Keep scrolling for more