Minotaur

noun

Mi·​no·​taur ˈmi-nə-ˌtȯr How to pronounce Minotaur (audio) ˈmī- How to pronounce Minotaur (audio)
: a monster shaped half like a man and half like a bull, confined in the labyrinth built by Daedalus for Minos, and given a periodic tribute of youths and maidens as food until slain by Theseus

Examples of Minotaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web This includes others like Apollo, Medusa, a Minotaur, Hephaestus and Persephone. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 There are so many stories from Greek mythology that have become ubiquitous, like Medusa, or the Minotaur – and there are stories that are a little bit lesser known. Diya Chacko, Orange County Register, 13 Feb. 2024 The Minotaur is 6-4-2 with the season coming down the stretch, hoping to land a 3A playoff berth. Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 19 Jan. 2024 The new American Minotaur’s appetite kept the gleaming German factories busy. Yanis Varoufakis, Fortune, 11 Feb. 2024 On the left is the Minotaur Room, its cavernous mouth the focal point. Max Olesker, Longreads, 13 July 2023 Advertisement Greek mythology tells us about the labyrinth, an elaborate structure built by the legendary Daedalus to hold a mythical half man and half bull creature known as the Minotaur. Ernie Cowan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Jan. 2024 The story also has ties to Greek mythology with Theseus and the Minotaur. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 5 Jan. 2024 Her three battles with the Minotaur are an allegory of creative flexibility (expressed in Graham’s trademark technique of contraction and release) versus rigidity. Christopher Benfey, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Minotaur.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin Minotaurus, from Greek Minōtauros, from Minōs + tauros bull

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Minotaur was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Minotaur

Cite this Entry

“Minotaur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Minotaur. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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