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

• giant-like adjective
• giantlike 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

The couple have never found their "gentle giant".

From BBC

Kang has made waves in women's football, building success at US-based Washington Spirit and French giants Lyon, before overseeing London City Lionesses' rise to the Women's Super League.

From BBC

"We are the giant of Africa, and jollof is a food that everybody knows Africans for," she said.

From BBC

Those LED wristbands play a huge part, too, making everyone in the audience part of a giant tapestry of light.

From BBC

On Tuesday, in its product announcement for the new iPhone Air - the newest, and thinnest, addition to the Apple family - the tech giant said it would feature an eSIM-only design.

From BBC

Related Words

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