giant

[jahy-uhnt]

noun

1. (in folklore) a being with human form but superhuman size, strength, etc.

2. a person or thing of unusually great size, power, importance, etc.; major figure; legend.

   a giant in her field; an intellectual giant.

3. (often initial capital letter),  any of the Gigantes.

4. Mining.,  monitor.

5. Astronomy.,  giant star.

adjective

1. unusually large, great, or strong; gigantic; huge.

2. greater or more eminent than others.

giant

/ ˈdʒaɪənt /

noun

1. Also (feminine): giantess. a mythical figure of superhuman size and strength, esp in folklore or fairy tales

2. a person or thing of exceptional size, reputation, etc

   a giant in nuclear physics

3. Greek myth any of the large and powerful offspring of Uranus (sky) and Gaea (earth) who rebelled against the Olympian gods but were defeated in battle

4. pathol a person suffering from gigantism

5. astronomy See giant star

6. mining another word for monitor

adjective

1. remarkably or supernaturally large

2. architect another word for colossal

Other Word Forms

• giantlike adjective
• giant-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of giant¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English geant, from Old French, from Latin gigant-, stem of gigās, from Greek Gígās; replacing Old English gigant, from Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of giant¹

C13: from Old French geant, from Vulgar Latin gagās (unattested), from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Greek

Example Sentences

His goal: to create a go-to defense company with the heft and breadth to rival the American giants that have dominated the industry since World War II.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The aerospace giant - based in France - said around 6,000 of its A320 planes had been affected with most requiring a quick software update.

Read more on BBC

The tech giant said it did not allow fraudulent activity and worked closely with Stop Scams UK to protect users.

Read more on BBC

Macuga, 23, had been preparing to race in the women's World Cup giant slalom at Copper Mountain, Colorado, on Saturday.

Read more on Barron's

About 6,000 planes are thought to be affected, about half the European aerospace giant's global fleet, but it is understood most will be able to undergo a simple software update.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• big 
• colossal 
• enormous 
• gargantuan 
• gigantic 
• huge 
• hulking 
• humongous 
• immense 
• jumbo 
• mammoth 
• monstrous 
• vast