Samson

[ sam-suhn ]

noun
  1. a judge of Israel famous for his great strength. Judges 13–16.

  2. any man of extraordinary physical strength.

  1. a male given name: from a Hebrew word meaning “like the sun.”

Other words from Samson

  • Sam·so·ni·an [sam-soh-nee-uhn], /sæmˈsoʊ ni ən/, adjective

Words Nearby Samson

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How to use Samson in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for Samson

Samson

/ (ˈsæmsən) /


noun
  1. a judge of Israel, who performed herculean feats of strength against the Philistine oppressors until he was betrayed to them by his mistress Delilah (Judges 13–16)

  2. any man of outstanding physical strength

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Cultural definitions for Samson

Samson

In the Old Testament, an Israelite servant of God who pitted his invincible strength and his wits against the Philistines on many occasions. He was eventually betrayed by his lover, the beautiful Delilah, who tricked Samson into telling her that the secret of his strength lay in his uncut hair. Delilah cut Samson's hair while he slept, and then called for the Philistines, who captured and blinded him. During his captivity, Samson's hair grew back, and he eventually pulled the Philistines' banquet hall down on their heads.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.