giant
Use Giant in a sentence
ənt| a children's mummer's parade, as on the Fourth of July, with prizes for the best costumes. |
| the offspring of a zebra and a donkey. |
1250–1300; Middle English geant < Old French < Latin gigant- (stem of gigās) < Greek Gígās; replacing Old English gigant < Latin, as above
Related forms
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
giant (ˈdʒaɪənt) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| 1. | Also (feminine): giantess a mythical figure of superhuman size and strength, esp in folklore or fairy tales |
| 2. | a person or thing of exceptional size, reputation, etc: a giant in nuclear physics |
| 3. | Greek myth any of the large and powerful offspring of Uranus (sky) and Gaea (earth) who rebelled against the Olympian gods but were defeated in battle |
| 4. | pathol a person suffering from gigantism |
| 5. | astronomy See giant star |
| 6. | mining another word for monitor |
| —adj | |
| 7. | remarkably or supernaturally large |
| 8. | architect another word for colossal |
| [C13: from Old French geant, from Vulgar Latin gagās (unattested), from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Greek] | |
| 'giant-like | |
| —adj | |
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
giant
"In þat tyme wer here non hauntes Of no men bot of geauntes." [Wace's Chronicle, c.1330]
Cite This Source
giant
in folklore, huge mythical being, usually humanlike in form. The term derives (through Latin) from the Giants (Gigantes) of Greek mythology, who were monstrous, savage creatures often depicted with men's bodies terminating in serpentine legs. According to the Greek poet Hesiod, they were sons of Ge ("Earth") and Uranus ("Heaven"). The Gigantomachy was a desperate struggle between the Giants and the Olympians. The gods finally prevailed through the aid of Heracles the archer, and the Giants were slain. Many of them were believed to lie buried under mountains and to indicate their presence by volcanic fires and earthquakes. The Gigantomachy became a popular artistic theme (found, for example, on the frieze adorning the great altar at Pergamum), and it was interpreted as a symbol of the triumph of Hellenism over barbarism, of good over evil.
Learn more about giant with a free trial on Britannica.com.
Cite This Source
