any of various extinct cats, closely resembling the tiger, but with a more massive body, shorter legs and tail, and long, curved upper canine teeth: found from the Oligocene to the Pleistocene, and of wide distribution
See saber-toothed tiger in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(sāˈbər-to͞othtˌ)
noun
Any of various extinct cats of the Oligocene to the Pleistocene Epoch, especially one of the larger members of the genus Smilodon, characterized by long upper canine teeth.