griffin

CEFRC1

/ˈɡɹɪf.ɪn/

noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    noun

    A mythical creature with the body of a lion and head of an eagle.

  2. 02

    noun

    Extra detail

    A griffon vulture, a large vulture (Gyps fulvus) found in the mountainous parts of Southern Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, supposed to be the "eagle" of the Bible.

Examples

  • A hippogryph is a fictional being: half horse, half griffin.

  • Tables were laid out in the palace, profusely covered with wines and refreshments, in the European style; old hands and griffins, fair sex and civilians, seemed all determined to enjoy themselves[…]

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

noun

Extra meanings

  1. An English variety of apple.

  2. A mythical beast having the body of a lion and the wings and head of an eagle.

  3. A mythical creature with the body of a lion and head and wings of an eagle.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The mythical beast with an eagle's head and lion's body is called a blank.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

noun

From Middle English griffoun, from Old French griffon, from Late Latin grȳphus, from Classical Latin grȳps, from Ancient Greek γρῡ́ψ (grū́ps).