noun
Uncommon
magnum
MAG-nuhm
Magnum (noun) means a large wine bottle holding about 1.5 litres, twice the size of a standard bottle. Example: “They opened a magnum of champagne to celebrate the anniversary.”
noun
1
A large wine bottle holding about 1.5 litres, twice the size of a standard bottle.
"They opened a magnum of champagne to celebrate the anniversary."
2
A powerful type of handgun cartridge, or a revolver built to fire it.
"The detective in the film carries a .357 magnum."
How to use magnum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither an extra-large wine bottle or a high-powered handgun/cartridge.
Common pairings
a magnum of champagne
.44 magnum
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Word forms
- Plural
- magnums, magna
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They opened a _____ of champagne to celebrate the anniversary.
Etymology
From Latin magnum, "great" — the wine-bottle sense is short for magnum bonum, and the firearm sense was registered as a trademark by Smith & Wesson in 1935.
Frequently asked questions
What does “magnum” mean?
The word “magnum” means a large wine bottle holding about 1.5 litres, twice the size of a standard bottle. In plain terms, either an extra-large wine bottle or a high-powered handgun/cartridge.
How do you pronounce “magnum”?
“Magnum” is pronounced MAG-nuhm (/ˈmæɡnəm/ in IPA).
How do you use “magnum” in a sentence?
Here is “magnum” used in a sentence: “They opened a magnum of champagne to celebrate the anniversary.”
What part of speech is “magnum”?
“Magnum” is a noun.
Where does the word “magnum” come from?
The word “magnum” dates back to around 1935 and comes from Latin. From Latin magnum, "great" — the wine-bottle sense is short for magnum bonum, and the firearm sense was registered as a trademark by Smith & Wesson in 1935.
Is “magnum” a common word?
“Magnum” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “magnum” have?
“Magnum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large wine bottle holding about 1.5 litres, twice the size of a standard bottle.
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