# Solomon

/ˈsɑɫəmən/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/solomon
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. biblical king

noun · CEFR B2

a king of Israel in the Bible who was famous for being very wise.

For teachers: The third king of Israel, son of David, renowned in the Old Testament and Quran for his wisdom, wealth, and the construction of the First Temple.

- In the Bible, Solomon is asked to decide which of two women is the real mother of a baby.
- The reign of Solomon is often depicted as a golden age of peace and architectural achievement in ancient Israelite history.

### 2. a wise person

noun · CEFR C1 · Literary

a person who shows great wisdom or makes very smart decisions.

For teachers: An allusion to the biblical king, used to describe a person of unusual wisdom or one who provides a definitive, fair judgment.

- The village elders looked to him as a Solomon whenever there was a difficult argument to settle.
- The judge was hailed as a modern Solomon for his ability to resolve the complex corporate dispute with a single, elegant ruling.

### 3. large bottle

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a very large bottle for champagne that holds 18 litres.

For teachers: A large-format champagne bottle with a capacity of 18 litres, equivalent to 24 standard 750ml bottles.

- They ordered a Solomon of champagne to celebrate the grand opening of the new hotel.
- Serving a Solomon requires a specialized pouring cradle due to the immense weight of the eighteen-litre vessel.

## Examples

- The judge was known as a local Solomon for his fair rulings.
- Faced with two equally valid complaints, the manager needed the wisdom of a Solomon to settle the dispute fairly.
- In the complex world of international diplomacy, he was regarded as a modern Solomon, capable of untangling historical grievances with a single, elegant compromise.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.