giant

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an unusually large enterprise

   Walton built a retail giant

2. 2
   noun

   A very tall and large person.

   "It's barbarous, Norsus." "It's Rome," said the giant flatly.

3. 3
   noun

   A very large organization.

   The retail giant is set to acquire two more struggling high-street chains.

4. 4
   noun

   A person of extraordinary strength or powers, bodily or intellectual.

   But then I had the flintlock by me for protection. ¶ There were giants in the days when that gun was made; for surely no modern mortal could have held that mass of metal steady to his shoulder. The linen-press and a chest on the top of it formed, however, a very good gun-carriage; and, thus mounted, aim could be taken out of the window[…].

5. 5
   adj

   Very large.

   The San Juan market is Mexico City's most famous deli of exotic meats, where an adventurous shopper can hunt down hard-to-find critters …. But the priciest items in the market aren't the armadillo steaks or even the bluefin tuna. That would be the frozen chicatanas – giant winged ants – at around $500 a kilo.

6. 6
   adj

   of great mass

7. 7
   noun

   any creature of exceptional size

8. 8
   noun

   a very bright star of large diameter and low density (relative to the Sun)

Etymology

From Middle English geaunt, geant, from Old French geant, gaiant (Modern French géant) from Vulgar Latin *gagās, gagant-, from Latin gigās, gigant-, from Ancient Greek γίγας (gígas, “giant”) Cognate to giga- (“1,000,000,000”). Displaced native Old English ent, eoten, and þyrs. Compare Modern English ent (“giant tree-man”), ettin ("a giant"), and thurse ("a giant").