Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

picador

noun pic·a·dor \ ˈpi-kə-ˌdȯr , ˌpi-kə-ˈdȯr \

Definition of picador

plural picadors play \ˈpi-kə-ˌdȯrz, ˌpi-kə-ˈdȯrz\ or picadores play \ˌpi-kə-ˈdȯr-ēz\
: a horseman in a bullfight who jabs the bull with a lance to weaken its neck and shoulder muscles

See picador defined for kids

Origin and Etymology of picador

Spanish, from picar to prick, from Vulgar Latin *piccare — more at pike

Learn More about picador

  1. See words that rhyme with picador Spanish Central: Translation of picador Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about picador

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up picador? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show hide

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

gaffer

play

a lighting electrician on a movie set

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. sequacious 'intellectually servile'

  2. inadmissible 'not capable of being allowed'

  3. oligarch, pejorative 'a member a government in which a small group exercises control especially for corrupt and selfish purposes'

  4. emolument 'the returns arising from office or employment usually in the form of compensation or perquisites'

  5. troll 'to harass, criticize, or antagonize especially by disparaging or mocking public statements'

SEE ALL

BROWSE DICTIONARY

picador

Test Your Vocabulary

The Eponym Quiz

  • rubens-painting
  • Which is the best synonym of bowdlerize?
Spell It

Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?

TAKE THE QUIZ
Add Diction

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games