Word
magnum
Phoneticsmag·num
US/ˈmæɡnəm/
UK/mˈæɡnəm/
Definitions
01large wine bottle
n. a large bottle of wine or champagne that holds 1.5 litres, which is twice the size of a normal bottle.
n. a bottle of wine or spirits with a capacity of 1.5 litres, equivalent to two standard 750ml bottles.
“They celebrated the wedding by opening a magnum of expensive champagne.”
“The host presented a magnum of vintage Bordeaux, noting that the larger format allows the wine to age more slowly and gracefully.”
Formal
Usage
Usually followed by 'of' and a type of alcohol.
Teaching tip
This is a high-level word mostly used in luxury dining or formal celebrations.
02powerful cartridge or gun
n. a very powerful type of bullet or a gun designed to fire these strong bullets.
n. a firearm cartridge with a larger explosive charge than standard rounds of the same calibre, or a handgun designed to chamber such rounds.
“The police officer carried a .357 magnum as his secondary weapon.”
“The ballistic performance of a magnum load provides significantly higher muzzle energy compared to standard civilian ammunition.”
Technical
Usage
Often used as a modifier before a calibre number, such as '.44 Magnum'.
Teaching tip
Outside of technical contexts, this sense is frequently associated with action movies and crime fiction.
Real-World Examples
“Using his trademark .44 Magnum revolver, Harry delivers justice for victims failed by the state.” “Photograph: Emic Works/Courtesy of Guggenheim Abu Dhabi The American architect Frank Gehry, who died last year , didn’t live to see his final magnum opus completed after 20 years’ gestation.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/magnum