SINCE 1828

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kouros

noun kou·ros \ ˈkü-ˌrȯs \

Definition of kouros

plural kouroi play \ˈkü-(ˌ)rȯi\

: an ancient Greek statue of a nude male youth standing with the left leg forward and arms at the sides

Recent Examples of kouros from the Web

There are true glam items — an apparitionally perfect marble kouros; a cup attributed to the great Penthesilea Painter — but also homely ones: pottery shards with inscriptions, that kind of thing.

— holland cotter, New York Times, "Review: ‘A World of Emotions’ in Greek Art Unmasks the Stony Faces," 23 Mar. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'kouros.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of kouros

Greek kouros, koros boy — more at crescent

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1920

in the meaning defined above

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Learn More about kouros

See words that rhyme with kouros Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about kouros

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