matador

[mat-uh-dawr]

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.

matador

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of matador¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of matador¹

C17: from Spanish, from matar to kill

Example Sentences

When it finally came time to leave, Madame Babushkinov swirled her fur cape to and fro like a matador to coax her three older children to the door.

Read more on Literature

“I believe you are referring to a matador,” Penelope helpfully corrected.

Read more on Literature

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

Read more on Salon

A bright moon rose as the family took their seats and the animal charged out of its pen, agitated, and barreled toward the matador’s pink cape.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The matador as an artist is an established idea within the bullfighting community.

Read more on BBC