Minotaur

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Min·o·taur

(mĭn′ə-tôr′, mī′nə-)

n. Greek Mythology

A monster who was half man and half bull, to whom young Athenian men and women were sacrificed in the Cretan labyrinth until Theseus killed him.

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.

Minotaur

(ˈmaɪnətɔː)

(Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man. It was kept in the Labyrinth in Crete, feeding on human flesh, until destroyed by Theseus

[C14: via Latin from Greek Minōtauros, from Minos + tauros bull]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

Min•o•taur

(ˈmɪn əˌtɔr, ˈmaɪ nə-)

n.

(in Greek myth) a monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man: housed in a labyrinth on Crete, it was fed on human flesh until Theseus killed it.

[< Latin Mīnōtaurus < Greek Mīnṓtauros=Minō(s) Minos + taúros bull]

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Noun

Minotaur - (Greek mythology) a mythical monster with the head of a bull and the body of a man; slain by Theseus

Greek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks

mythical creature, mythical monster - a monster renowned in folklore and myth

Translations

Minotaur

[ˈmaɪnətɔːʳ] N → Minotauro m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

Minotaur

n → Minotaur(us) m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

Minotaur

[ˈmaɪnətɔːʳ] n → Minotauro

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

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References in classic literature ?

It is the day when we annually draw lots to see which of the youths and maids of Athens shall go to be devoured by the horrible Minotaur!"

"The Minotaur!" exclaimed Prince Theseus; and like a brave young prince as he was, he put his hand to the hilt of his sword.

It seems that in the island of Crete there lived a certain dreadful monster, called a Minotaur, which was shaped partly like a man and partly like a bull, and was altogether such a hideous sort of a creature that it is really disagreeable to think of him.

"Let the people of Athens this year draw lots for only six young men, instead of seven," said he, "I will myself be the seventh; and let the Minotaur devour me if he can!"

But he assured his father that he did not intend to be eaten up, unresistingly, like a sheep, and that, if the Minotaur devoured him, it should not be without a battle for his dinner.

And, dearest Theseus, if by some happy chance, you should escape the jaws of the Minotaur, then tear down those dismal sails, and hoist others that shall be bright as the sunshine.

"We bring the seven youths and the seven maidens," answered the master, "to be devoured by the Minotaur!"

But this immitigable Minos cared only to examine whether they were plump enough to satisfy the Minotaur's appetite.

"Young man," asked he, with his stern voice, "are you not appalled at the certainty of being devoured by this terrible Minotaur?"

Sitting there on thy golden throne, and in thy robes of majesty, I tell thee to thy face, King Minos, thou art a more hideous monster than the Minotaur himself!"

"To-morrow, at breakfast time, you shall have an opportunity of judging which is the greater monster, the Minotaur or the king!

View in context

(50) For his murder Minos exacted a yearly tribute of boys and girls, to be devoured by the Minotaur, from the Athenians.