Bolshevik
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Related to Bolshevik: Menshevik, Bolshevik Revolution
Bol·she·vik
(bōl′shə-vĭk′, bŏl′-)n. pl. Bol·she·viks or Bol·she·vi·ki (-vē′kē)
1.
a. A member of the left-wing majority group of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party that adopted Lenin's theses on party organization in 1903.
b. A member of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party that seized power in that country in November 1917.
c. A member of a Marxist-Leninist party or a supporter of one; a Communist.
2. often bolshevik An extreme radical: a literary bolshevik. In all senses also called Bolshevist.
[Russian Bol'shevik, from bol'she, comparative of bol'shoĭ, large; see bel- in Indo-European roots.]
Bol′she·vik′ adj.
Word History: The word Bolshevik derives from the Russian word bol'she, "bigger, more," the comparative form of bol'shoĭ, "big." In Russian, the plural Bol'sheviki was the name given to the majority faction at the Second Congress of the Russian Social Democratic Workers' Party in 1903. The smaller faction was known as Men'sheviki, from men'she, "less, smaller," the comparative of malyĭ, "little, few." The Bol'sheviki, who sided with Lenin in the split that followed the Congress, subsequently became the Russian Communist Party. In 1952 the word Bol'shevik was dropped as an official term in the Soviet Union, but it had long since passed into other languages, including English.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Bolshevik
(ˈbɒlʃɪvɪk)n, pl -viks or -viki (-ˈviːkɪ)
1. (Sociology) (formerly) a Russian Communist. Compare Menshevik
2. (Historical Terms) any Communist
3. (often not capital) jocular derogatory any political radical, esp a revolutionary
[C20: from Russian Bol'shevik majority, from bol'shoi great; from the fact that this group formed a majority of the Russian Social Democratic Party in 1903]
ˈBolsheˌvism n
ˈBolshevist adj, n
ˌBolsheˈvistic adj
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
Bol•she•vik
(ˈboʊl ʃə vɪk, -ˌvik, ˈbɒl-)n., pl. -viks, -vik•i (-ˌvɪk i, -ˌvi ki)
1.
a. a member of the radical majority wing of the Russian Social-Democratic Workers' Party, 1903–17, advocating abrupt, forceful seizure of power by the proletariat.
b. (after 1918) a member of the Russian Communist Party.
2. a member of any Communist Party.
3. (often l.c.) Older Use: Disparaging. a political radical or revolutionary.
[1915–20; < Russian bol'shevík, derivative of ból'sh(iĭ) larger, greater]
Bol′she•vism (-ˌvɪz əm) n.
Bol′she•vist, n., adj.
Bol`she•vis′tic, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Noun | 1. |  Bolshevik - emotionally charged terms used to refer to extreme radicals or revolutionariesradical - a person who has radical ideas or opinions |
| 2. |  Bolshevik - a Russian member of the left-wing majority group that followed Lenin and eventually became the Russian communist party | |
| Adj. | 1. | Bolshevik - of or relating to Bolshevism; "Bolshevik Revolution" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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Bolshevik
[ˈbɒlʃəvɪk] adj & n → bolscevico/aCollins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995