Adjacent Words

albatross definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck" [syn: albatross, millstone]
2: large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight [syn: albatross, mollymawk]

Merriam Webster's

noun (plural -tross or -trosses) Etymology: probably alteration of obsolete alcatrace frigate bird, from Spanish or Portuguese alcatraz pelican, from Arabic al-gha???s, a kind of sea eagle Date: 1672 1. any of a family (Diomedeidae) of large web-footed seabirds that have long slender wings, are excellent gliders, and include the largest seabirds 2. a. something that causes persistent deep concern or anxiety b. something that greatly hinders accomplishment ; encumbrance

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a any long-winged stout-bodied bird of the family Diomedeidae related to petrels, inhabiting the Pacific and Southern Oceans. b a source of frustration or guilt; an encumbrance. 2 Brit. Golf a score of three strokes under par at any hole. Etymology: alt. (after L albus white) of 17th-c. alcatras, applied to various sea-birds, f. Sp. and Port. alcatraz, var. of Port. alcatruz f. Arab. alkadus the pitcher

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Albatross Al"ba*tross, n. [Corrupt. fr. Pg. alcatraz cormorant, albatross, or Sp. alcatraz a pelican: cf. Pg. alcatruz, Sp. arcaduz, a bucket, fr. Ar. al-q[=a]dus the bucket, fr. Gr. ka`dos, a water vessel. So an Arabic term for pelican is water-carrier, as a bird carrying water in its pouch.] (Zo["o]l.) A web-footed bird, of the genus Diomedea, of which there are several species. They are the largest of sea birds, capable of long-continued flight, and are often seen at great distances from the land. They are found chiefly in the southern hemisphere.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(albatrosses) 1. An albatross is a very large white seabird. N-COUNT 2. If you describe something or someone as an albatross around your neck, you mean that they cause you great problems from which you cannot escape, or they prevent you from doing what you want to do. Privatization could become a political albatross for the ruling party. N-COUNT: usu with supp [disapproval]