giant

Everyday

1. In stories, a giant is an imaginary person who is enormously big and strong. tree →
2. Giant (adjective) means very, very large. tree →
3. A giant is a person, company or thing that is very important or successful, like a giant of science. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and fairy tales (Jack and the Beanstalk, The BFG), giants are usually huge and scary or sometimes kind; they tell the reader about size, danger and courage. In science, there are giant animals and plants: blue whales, giant pandas, giant tortoises, giant squid, giant sequoias; Jupiter is a gas giant. «Giant's Causeway» in Northern Ireland is made of rock columns. Phrases: «a giant step», «giant panda», «gentle giant», «gas giant», «on the shoulders of giants».

Examples

• The giant lived in a castle above the clouds. tree →
• A blue whale is a giant of the sea. tree →
• We saw a giant tortoise at the zoo. tree →
• That's a giant sandwich! tree →
• Jupiter is a gas giant. tree →
• The friendly dog is a gentle giant. tree →
• Learning to read was a giant step for my sister. tree →
• The Giant's Causeway is in Northern Ireland. tree →
• 'Greater than who?' asked the giant. tree →

Note

Plural giants. Pronounced «JY-ant». Giants in stories are not real; very tall real people are just tall. «Gigantic» is the adjective meaning extremely large.

In Jewish tradition

A very tall and strong person. The Philistine giants of Gath were killed by David and his men. Job uses it for a strong attacker.

Interpretation. The tradition connects such giants to the Rephaim and to Goliath's family. The story of David stresses that faith in God can beat the strongest enemy.

Examples

• He breaketh me with breach upon breach; He runneth upon me like a giant. (Writings JOB.16.14, JPS 1917) tree →
• These were born unto the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David and by the hand of his servants. (Writings 1CH.20.8, JPS 1917) tree →
• These four were born to the giant in Gath; and they fell by the hand of David, and by the hand of his servants. (Prophets 2SA.21.22, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Plural giants. Pronounced «JY-ant». Giants in stories are not real; very tall real people are just tall. «Gigantic» is the adjective meaning extremely large.