glad·i·a·tor

(glăd′ē-ā′tər)

1. A person, usually a professional combatant, a captive, or a slave, trained to entertain the public by engaging in mortal combat with another person or a wild animal in the ancient Roman arena.

2. A person engaged in a controversy or debate, especially in public; a disputant.

3. Sports A professional boxer.

[Middle English, from Latin gladiātor, from gladius, sword, of Celtic origin; akin to Old Irish claideb.]

glad′i·a·to′ri·al (-ə-tôr′ē-əl) adj.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

gladiator

(ˈɡlædɪˌeɪtə)

1. (Historical Terms) (in ancient Rome and Etruria) a man trained to fight in arenas to provide entertainment

2. a person who supports and fights publicly for a cause

[C16: from Latin: swordsman, from gladius sword]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

glad•i•a•tor

(ˈglæd iˌeɪ tər)

n.

1. (in ancient Rome) a man compelled to fight to the death in a public arena for the entertainment of spectators.

2. someone who engages in a fight or controversy.

3. a prizefighter.

[1535–45; < Latin gladiātor, derivative of gladi(us) sword]

glad`i•a•to′ri•al (-əˈtɔr i əl, -ˈtoʊr-) adj.

gladiator

, gladiate - The main Latin word for sword was gladius, from which came gladiator; gladiate is an adjective meaning sword-shaped.

gladiator

An armed fighter for arena contests. Up to 5000 pairs could perform in one spectacle.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	gladiator - (ancient Rome) a professional combatant or a captive who entertained the public by engaging in mortal combat capital of Italy, Eternal City, Italian capital, Rome, Roma - capital and largest city of Italy; on the Tiber; seat of the Roman Catholic Church; formerly the capital of the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire battler, belligerent, combatant, fighter, scrapper - someone who fights (or is fighting) antiquity - the historic period preceding the Middle Ages in Europe
	2.	gladiator - a professional boxer prizefighter boxer, pugilist - someone who fights with his fists for sport featherweight - a professional boxer who weighs between 123 and 126 pounds heavyweight - a professional boxer who weighs more than 190 pounds cruiserweight, light heavyweight - a professional boxer who weighs between 169 and 175 pounds lightweight - a professional boxer who weighs between 131 and 135 pounds middleweight - a professional boxer who weighs between 155 and 160 pounds welterweight - a professional boxer who weighs between 141 and 147 pounds

Translations

مُجالِد، مُصارِع

gladiátor

gladiator

Gladiator

gladiador

gladiateur belluaire

gladiátor

skylmingaòræll

gladiatore

gladiatorius

gladiators

gladiátor

gladiator

[ˈglædɪeɪtəʳ] N → gladiador m

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

gladiator

[ˈglædieɪtə^r] n → gladiateur m

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

gladiator

n → Gladiator m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

gladiator

[ˈglædɪˌeɪtəʳ] n → gladiatore m

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

gladiator

(ˈglӕdieitə) noun

in ancient Rome, a man trained to fight with other men or with animals for the amusement of spectators.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

We saw the Dying Gladiator at the Capitol, and I think that even we appreciated that wonder of art; as much, perhaps, as we did that fearful story wrought in marble, in the Vatican--the Laocoon.

View in context

Tall and well proportioned as an ancient gladiator, and muscular as a Spartan, he walked for a quarter of an hour without knowing where to direct his steps, actuated by the sole idea of getting away from the spot where if he lingered he knew that he would surely be taken.

View in context

The dying rattle of the valiant gladiator guided them amidst the ruins.

View in context

The Tin Woodman was usually a peaceful man, but when occasion required he could fight as fiercely as a Roman gladiator. So, when the Jackdaws nearly knocked him down in their rush of wings, and their sharp beaks and claws threatened to damage his brilliant plating, the Woodman picked up his axe and made it whirl swiftly around his head.

View in context

And he, with his incarnate spirit of battle, his gladiator body and his eagle spirit--he was as gentle and tender to me as a poet.

View in context

Pocket stood, and he dropped upon it in the attitude of the Dying Gladiator. Still in that attitude he said, with a hollow voice, "Good night, Mr.

View in context

He stands out among contemporary rhymesters - magazine rhymesters - as a gladiator stands out in the midst of a band of eunuchs."

View in context

He observed, too, that he was leaning forward in a strained attitude-- crouching like a gladiator ready to spring at the throat of an antagonist.

View in context

The referee shoved Rivera back with one hand, and stood over the fallen gladiator counting the seconds.

View in context

Some fine instinct that Rome must have bequeathed to us caused nearly every one to turn and look at them--there was a subtle feeling that two gladiators had met in the arena.

View in context

The mother and the son began to sway and struggle like gladiators.

View in context

"We set our chair in the MIDST"--so saith their smirking unto me--"and as far from dying gladiators as from satisfied swine."

View in context