unicorn

[ yoo-ni-kawrn ]

noun

1. a mythical creature resembling a horse, with a single horn in the center of its forehead: often symbolic of chastity or purity.
2. a heraldic representation of this animal, in the form of a horse with a lion's tail and with a long, straight, and spirally twisted horn.
3. Unicorn, Astronomy. the constellation Monoceros.
4. an animal mentioned in the Bible, Deuteronomy 33:17: now believed by some to be a description of a wild ox or rhinoceros.
5. a former gold coin of Scotland, first issued by James III in 1486, having an obverse bearing the figure of a unicorn.
6. Business. a relatively new company, usually less than ten years old, that is valued at $1 billion or more by public or private investors.
7. a person or thing that is rare and highly valued, or is a hypothetical ideal: Finding jeans that are comfortable and fashionable—that’s my unicorn.

   Hiring unicorns is expensive, but their productivity can take your enterprise to the next level.

   Finding jeans that are comfortable and fashionable—that’s my unicorn.

8. Slang. a bisexual woman who joins an established heterosexual couple in a sexual encounter or relationship.

unicorn

/ ˈjuːnɪˌkɔːn /

noun

1. an imaginary creature usually depicted as a white horse with one long spiralled horn growing from its forehead
2. Old Testament a two-horned animal, thought to be either the rhinoceros or the aurochs (Deuteronomy 33:17): mistranslation in the Authorized Version of the original Hebrew

unicorn

1. A mythical animal resembling a small horse but with a long, straight horn growing out of its forehead. Often it was described as having the legs of a deer and the tail of a lion. Some sources claim it was visible only to virgins.

Word History and Origins

Origin of unicorn¹

First recorded in 1200–1250; Middle English, from Old French unicorne, from the Latin adjective ūnicornis “one-horned” (used as a noun in the Vulgate and possibly referring to the rhinoceros), a loan translation from the Greek noun and adjective monókerōs, equivalent to uni- “one” + corn(ū) “horn” + -is adjective suffix; uni-, horn

Word History and Origins

Origin of unicorn¹

C13: from Old French unicorne, from Latin ūnicornis one-horned, from ūnus one + cornu a horn

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. chase a / the unicorn, to pursue an unattainable object or impossible goal, especially when diverting effort or resources away from an existing commitment or practical plan.

Example Sentences

Lee was an early investor in the education technology startup that hit unicorn status last year.

From Fortune

Few other markets are able to fund the listing of so many unicorns.

From Fortune

Cities outside the US are attracting more funding, generating more unicorns, and creating thriving startup ecosystems.

From Quartz

Scientists might use the tools of bioengineering to cobble together the traits of a unicorn from other creatures.

From Science News For Students

So unicorns that evolved from albino horses might not be all that healthy.

From Science News For Students

One image in the film also stuck in my craw: a shot of a little boy in the audience holding up his white stuffed unicorn.

From The Daily Beast

Her very first sculpture, a metallic chrome unicorn aptly titled “Space Oracle,” sits on a pedestal directly in front.

From The Daily Beast

The victory in 1950 over England is precious, but in the way a unicorn might be: to be regarded wide-eyed, and scarcely believed.

From The Daily Beast

Perhaps the name “unicorn” tells you how common it is for women to swing with couples.

From The Daily Beast

Dan worked hard and made a good picture: mountains, timber, blue sky…and in the foreground a blond girl and a unicorn.

From The Daily Beast

There are three there, Bill, with a jolly large blue unicorn and a gold pitchfork on em, which is the old ladys arms.

From Project Gutenberg

The Unicorn lost almost all its officers, and about a hundred and forty men.

From Project Gutenberg

Abel Sneed, the Unicorn boss, as a matter of precaution went through their 'war bags' while they slept.

From Project Gutenberg

At the entrance, there is a glass screen, ornamentally got up and surmounted with a small lion and unicorn design.

From Project Gutenberg

He saw that the unicorn was a bull considerably larger than the average.

From Project Gutenberg