giant (giants plural )
1 adj Something that is described as giant is much larger or more important than most others of its kind.
ADJ n
(=huge)
...Italy's giant car maker, Fiat., ...a giant oak table., ...a giant step towards unification with the introduction of monetary union.
2 n-count Giant is often used to refer to any large, successful business organization or country. (JOURNALISM) usu n N
...Japanese electronics giant Sony., ...one of Germany's industrial giants, Daimler-Benz.
3 n-count A giant is an imaginary person who is very big and strong, especially one mentioned in old stories.
...a Nordic saga of giants.
4 n-count You can refer to someone, especially a man, as a giant, if they seem important or powerful or if they are big and strong.
usu a N of n
The biggest man in the patrol, a giant of a man, lifted Mattie on to his shoulders.
5 n-count You can refer to someone such as a famous musician or writer as a giant, if they are regarded as one of the most important or successful people in their field. usu N of n He was without question one of the giants of Japanese literature.
giant-killer (giant-killers plural ), giant killer A giant-killer is a sportsman, sportswoman, or team that unexpectedly beats a much stronger opponent.
(mainly BRIT, JOURNALISM) n-count
Giant-killers Yeovil became the most successful non-league club in history with their 5-2 win at Torquay.
giant-killing (giant-killings plural )In sport, when a weaker team or competitor beats a much stronger, well-known team or competitor, their success is sometimes called a giant-killing.
(mainly BRIT, JOURNALISM) n-count usu N n
Scarborough are aiming to pull off a repeat of their giant-killing act against Chelsea three years ago.
giant-sized
An object that is giant-sized is much bigger than objects of its kind usually are. adj usu ADJ n
...a giant-sized TV.
sleeping giant (sleeping giants plural )If you refer to someone or something as a sleeping giant, you mean that they are powerful but they have not yet shown the full extent of their power. (JOURNALISM) n-count
The trust, which has 2.3 million members, has been characterised as a sleeping giant of the environment movement.
