tapirPronunciation: /ˈteɪpə, -ɪə/Definition of tapir noun a nocturnal hoofed mammal with a stout body, sturdy limbs, and a short flexible proboscis, native to the forests of tropical America and Malaysia. Family Tapiridae and genus Tapirus: four species, including the black and white Malayan tapir (T. indicus) Origin: late 18th century: via Spanish and Portuguese from Tupi tapyratapir in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of tapir in the US English dictionary