a member of the mixed Dravidian and Caucasian people of southern India and Sri Lanka
"The ancient Tamil migration to Southeast Asia brought unique cultural traditions from their homeland in southern India and Sri Lanka."
the Dravidian language spoken since prehistoric times by the Tamil in southern India and Sri Lanka
"The ancient stone inscriptions were carved in Tamil, showcasing a literary tradition that has flourished in southern India for millennia."
A person who originates from Tamil Nadu, India or Sri Lanka.
"The community gathered to celebrate the traditional festival of Pongal, a holiday cherished by every Tamil in the region."
In plain English: Tamil is an ancient language spoken by millions of people, mainly in southern India and Sri Lanka.
"Many people in Chennai speak Tamil at home and work."
of or relating to a speaker of the Tamil language or the language itself
"Tamil agglutinative phrases"
Of or pertaining to the Tamil people, culture, or language.
"The ancient Tamil literature preserves a wealth of information about the early history and customs of the region."
In plain English: Tamil is something that relates to Tamil people, their culture, or language from South India and Sri Lanka.
"We enjoyed watching a Tamil film with our family last night."
The word comes directly from the language of origin itself, where it refers to the people or their speech. Because its meaning has not changed over time, scholars continue to debate exactly how this term originally arose within Tamil culture.