Magnum Meaning
/ˈmæɡnəm/Definition, CEFR level C1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounA bottle containing 1.5 liters of fluid, double the volume of a standard wine bottle.
nounA powerful firearm cartridge, often derived from a shorter, less powerful cartridge calibre that uses the same bullet.
Sentence Examples
Long Day's Journey into Night is considered to be Eugene O'Neill's magnum opus.
This is probably Tom's magnum opus.
CEFR Practice Quiz
For the large party, they bought a ____ of champagne to serve all the guests.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ of champagne is equivalent to two standard bottles and is often used for a large celebration.
Word Origin & History
From Latin magnum, neuter of magnus (“great”). * (bottle): Ellipsis of magnum bonum. * (handgun): Name registered 1935 by Smith & Wesson Inc., of Springfield, Massachusetts.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"So please don’t ask me when / There may be wine and roses / And magnums of champagne"
— 2014, Leonard Cohen, “A Street”, in Popular Problems:
"I know what you're thinking. "Did he fire six shots or only five?" Well, to tell you the truth, in all this excitement, I've kinda lost track myself. But, being as this is a .44 magnum, the most powerful handgun in the world, and would blow your head clean off, you've got to ask yourself one question: "Do I feel lucky?" Well, do ya, punk?"
— 1971, Harry Julian Fink et al., Dirty Harry, spoken by Harry Callahan (Clint Eastwood):
Explore More C1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
For the large party, they bought a ____ of champagne to serve all the guests.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
A ____ of champagne is equivalent to two standard bottles and is often used for a large celebration.