First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
gladiator
noun glad·i·a·tor \ˈgla-dē-ˌā-tər\
: a man in ancient Rome who fought against another man or animal for public entertainment
Full Definition of GLADIATOR
1
: a person engaged in a fight to the death as public entertainment for ancient Romans
2
: a person engaging in a public fight or controversy
3
: a trained fighter; especially : a professional boxer
— glad·i·a·to·ri·al \ˌgla-dē-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl\ adjective
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Origin of GLADIATOR
Latin, from gladius sword, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cleddyf sword
Related to GLADIATOR
- Synonyms
- fighter, boxer, prizefighter, pug, pugilist
Rhymes with GLADIATOR
abdicator, abnegator, activator, actuator, adulator, advocator, agitator, alligator, allocator, animator, annotator, applicator, arbitrator, aspirator, aviator, brachiator, buccinator, calculator, calibrator, captivator, carburetor, castigator, circulator, commentator, commutator, compensator, compurgator, concentrator, confiscator, congregator, consecrator, consummator, contemplator, corporator, correlator, cultivator, decorator, defalcator, delegator, demonstrator, denigrator, depredator, desecrater, designator, detonator, deviator, dissipater, dominator, dura mater, educator, elevator, emulator, escalator, estimator, excavator, explicator, expurgator, extirpator, fabricator, fascinator, figure skater, flocculator, formulator, fornicator, fractionator, fumigator, generator, hesitater, hibernator, imitator, immolator, impregnator, incubator, indicator, infiltrator, in-line skater, innovator, inhalator, inspirator, instigator, insulator, integrator, lacrimator, liberator, liquidator, literator, lubricator, macerator, masticator, mediator, mitigator, moderator, modulator, motivator, mutilator, navigator, nomenclator, nominator, numerator, obturator, operator, orchestrator, oscillator, peculator, percolator, perforator, perpetrator, pia mater, pollinator, postulator, procreator, procurator, promulgator, propagator, punctuator, radiator, re-creator, remonstrator, renovator, resonator, respirator, revelator, roller skater, rubricator, rusticator, salivator, second-rater, selling-plater, separator, simulator, stimulator, subjugator, Sunset Crater, syncopator, syndicator, tabulator, terminator, vaccinator, vacillator, valuator, venerator, ventilator, vindicator, violator, vitiator
GLADIATORIAL Defined for Kids
gladiator
noun glad·i·a·tor \ˈgla-dē-ˌā-tər\
Definition of GLADIATOR for Kids
: a man in ancient Rome who took part in fights as public entertainment
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