Minos

American

[mahy-nuhs, -nos] / ˈmaɪ nəs, -nɒs /

noun

Classical Mythology.

a king of Crete: he ordered Daedalus to build the Labyrinth.

Minos British

/ ˈmaɪnɒs /

noun

Greek myth a king of Crete for whom Daedalus built the Labyrinth to contain the Minotaur

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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.

Historians see in the myth a distant memory of the earlier civilization on Crete and use the term Minoan, derived from Minos, to describe it.

From Textbooks • Apr. 19, 2023

She wants justice and vengeance on Minos, but she’s so smart she can’t help but solve whatever puzzle is in front of her.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 15, 2021

"The picture was taken in the actual palace of King Minos, on the island of Crete. And the costume and mask was made by me," said Skordas.

From BBC • Mar. 20, 2018

“We’re not used to seeing business consultants brought into the process,” said Minos Mouzourakis of the Brussels-based European Council on Refugees and Exiles.

From Washington Post • Jul. 23, 2017

Poseidon had given this bull to Minos in order that he should sacrifice it to him, but Minos could not bear to slay it and had kept it for himself.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023