gladiator

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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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Examples of GLADIATOR

1. <the two punch-drunk gladiators stumbled to their corners>

Origin of GLADIATOR

Latin, from gladius sword, of Celtic origin; akin to Welsh cleddyf sword

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to GLADIATOR

Synonyms

fighter, boxer, prizefighter, pug, pugilist

Related Words

palooka, slugger, stumblebum; bantamweight, cruiserweight, featherweight, flyweight, heavyweight, light heavyweight, lightweight, middleweight, superheavyweight, welterweight

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