matador

American  

[mat-uh-dawr] / ˈmæt əˌdɔr /

noun

1. the principal bullfighter in a bullfight who passes the bull with a muleta and then, in many countries, kills it with a sword thrust; a torero.

2. one of the principal cards in skat and certain other games.

3. (initial capital letter) a jet-powered U.S. surface-to-surface missile.

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matador British  

/ ˈmætədɔː /

noun

1. the principal bullfighter who is appointed to kill the bull

2. (in some card games such as skat) one of the highest ranking cards

3. a game played with dominoes in which the dots on adjacent halves must total seven

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Etymology

Origin of matador

1665–75; < Spanish, equivalent to mata ( r ) to kill (perhaps < Vulgar Latin *mattāre, presumed derivative of Late Latin mattus soft, weak; matte ¹ ) +- dor -tor

Compare meaning

How does matador compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• toreador vs. matador

Example Sentences

Their enthralling matador and bull program set to “Paint it Black” eclipsed the season’s best they earned two days prior during the team event, but it wasn’t enough to earn elusive individual Olympic gold.

From Los Angeles Times

She recites one from memory about a great matador who was killed at five o’clock in the afternoon.

From Literature

He put his head down and charged at Edward Ashton like a furious bull charging at a matador’s red cape.

From Literature

“I doubt you will see any matadors on the train platform,” Penelope remarked.

From Literature

We meet Iñaki, the manager here who is appropriately more matador than barkeep.

From Salon