chariot
Americannoun
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a light, two-wheeled vehicle for one person, usually drawn by two horses and driven from a standing position, used in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc., in warfare, racing, hunting, etc.
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a light, four-wheeled pleasure carriage.
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any stately carriage.
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Facetious. an automobile.
verb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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a two-wheeled horse-drawn vehicle used in ancient Egypt, Greece, Rome, etc, in war, races, and processions
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a light four-wheeled horse-drawn ceremonial carriage
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poetic any stately vehicle
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of chariot
1275–1325; Middle English < Middle French, Old French, equivalent to char car 1 + -iot diminutive suffix
Explanation
A chariot is a small carriage pulled by horses. In the ancient world, chariots were usually the fastest way to travel, and also a convenient method for transporting armies and archery platforms. In ancient Rome, chariots were used in races and processions, while the Hittites used them for waging battles. Ancient Greece and Rome both had famous tales of warring charioteers, but both societies mainly used chariots for racing and parading. One Greek myth describes the sun god Helios's son, Phaethon, inexpertly driving the horse-drawn sun chariot for a day and nearly setting the Earth on fire.
Vocabulary lists containing chariot
"To His Coy Mistress" by Andrew Marvell
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Ancient Rome - Introductory
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Ancient Rome - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The crowd indulged in long, loud renditions of Swing Low Sweet Chariot and generous applause for excellent visiting full-back Ange Capuozzo, before Ben Earl charged in on the final play to cap victory.
From BBC • Mar. 9, 2025
For Frías, 2023’s Chariot year was an invitation to contemplate the direction of their life, where they were headed and the parts of their life where they didn’t feel empowered or in control.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 11, 2024
Of the roughly 60 clients that Chariot has hosted, Campbell estimates about half are from out of state.
From Seattle Times • Dec. 23, 2023
Charlotte Blessing, a reader in the United States, recommends “Pulling the Chariot of the Sun” by Shane McCrae:
From New York Times • Nov. 8, 2023
Unfortunately, the Castle Chariot was in the Forest Sauvage, and Lancelot now lost his way to the abbey.
From "The Once and Future King" by T. H. White
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
