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# gladiator

noun (a gladiator, gladiators)

«gladiator» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A gladiator was a man in ancient Rome who fought other men or wild animals in an arena to entertain crowds, often with swords, nets or tridents. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#m1)
2. A gladiator can mean someone who fights hard in a contest or argument (figurative). [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#m2)

### In the lessons

In history lessons on the Romans, gladiators fought in amphitheatres such as the Colosseum; many were slaves, prisoners or criminals, though some became famous. Pupils discuss why crowds enjoyed such cruel games and how attitudes have changed. Phrases: «gladiator fight», «gladiator school», «in the arena».

### Examples

- The gladiator fought a lion in the Colosseum. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x1)
- Many gladiators were slaves. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x2)
- Gladiators trained at special schools. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x3)
- Some gladiators used a net and a trident. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x4)
- The crowd cheered as the gladiators entered the arena. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x5)
- We made gladiator helmets out of card. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/#x6)

### Note

Countable. Pronounced GLAD-ee-ay-tur. Myth trap: the thumbs-up or thumbs-down signal for life or death is not certain; historians are not sure which gesture meant what.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «gladiator» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/G/gladiator/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«gladiator» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/gladiator.html) on Mova free.