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The minute that you bring a unicorn into a story, you know that it's a fairy tale or a fable, because unicorns don't exist as animals. They exist as fantasy creatures.
Gloria Vanderbilt

Meaning of "unicorn" in the English dictionary

Dictionary
DICTIONARY
section

ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORD UNICORN

From Old French unicorne, from Latin ūnicornis one-horned, from ūnus one + cornu a horn.
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Etymology is the study of the origin of words and their changes in structure and significance.
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PRONUNCIATION OF UNICORN

unicorn  [ˈjuːnɪˌkɔːn] play
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GRAMMATICAL CATEGORY OF UNICORN

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
Unicorn is a noun.
A noun is a type of word the meaning of which determines reality. Nouns provide the names for all things: people, objects, sensations, feelings, etc.

WHAT DOES UNICORN MEAN IN ENGLISH?

unicorn

Unicorn

The unicorn is a legendary animal that has been described since antiquity as a beast with a large, pointed, spiraling horn projecting from its forehead. The unicorn was depicted in ancient seals of the Indus Valley Civilization and was mentioned by the ancient Greeks in accounts of natural history by various writers, including Ctesias, Strabo, Pliny the Younger, and Aelian. The Bible also describes an animal, the re'em, which some translations have rendered with the word unicorn. In European folklore, the unicorn is often depicted as a white horselike or goatlike animal with a long horn and cloven hooves. In the Middle Ages and Renaissance, it was commonly described as an extremely wild woodland creature, a symbol of purity and grace, which could only be captured by a virgin. In the encyclopedias its horn was said to have the power to render poisoned water potable and to heal sickness. In medieval and Renaissance times, the horn of the narwhal was sometimes sold as unicorn horn.

Definition of unicorn in the English dictionary

The definition of unicorn in the dictionary is an imaginary creature usually depicted as a white horse with one long spiralled horn growing from its forehead. Other definition of unicorn is a two-horned animal, thought to be either the rhinoceros or the aurochs : mistranslation in the Authorized Version of the original Hebrew.

WORDS THAT RHYME WITH UNICORN


amelcorn
ˈæməlˌkɔːn
barleycorn
ˈbɑːlɪˌkɔːn
broomcorn
ˈbruːmˌkɔːn
Capricorn
ˈkæprɪˌkɔːn
cavicorn
ˈkævɪˌkɔːn
clavicorn
ˈklævɪˌkɔːn
corn
kɔːn
eggcorn
ˈɛɡˌkɔːn
einkorn
ˈaɪnˌkɔːn
lamellicorn
ləˈmɛlɪˌkɔːn
leprechaun
ˈlɛprəˌkɔːn
longicorn
ˈlɒndʒɪˌkɔːn
mungcorn
ˈmʌŋˌkɔːn
naricorn
ˈneɪrɪˌkɔːn
peppercorn
ˈpɛpəˌkɔːn
popcorn
ˈpɒpˌkɔːn
Runcorn
ˈrʌŋˌkɔːn
serricorn
ˈsɛrɪˌkɔːn
tricorn
ˈtraɪˌkɔːn
wardcorn
ˈwɔːdˌkɔːn

WORDS THAT BEGIN LIKE UNICORN

unicameral
unicameralism
unicameralist
unicamerally
UNICEF
unicellular
unicellularity
unicentral
unicity
Unicode
unicolor
unicolorate
unicolorous
unicolour
unicorn chaser
unicostate
unicycle
unicyclist
unideaed
unideal

WORDS THAT END LIKE UNICORN

bicorn
field corn
green corn
Guinea corn
Indian corn
John Barleycorn
kaffir corn
kafir corn
outscorn
pilcorn
scorn
seed corn
seed-corn
squirrel corn
sugar corn
sweet corn
tropic of Capricorn

Synonyms and antonyms of unicorn in the English dictionary of synonyms

SYNONYMS

Translation of «unicorn» into 25 languages

TRANSLATOR
online translator

TRANSLATION OF UNICORN

Find out the translation of unicorn to 25 languages with our English multilingual translator.
The translations of unicorn from English to other languages presented in this section have been obtained through automatic statistical translation; where the essential translation unit is the word «unicorn» in English.

Translator English - Chinese

麒麟
1,325 millions of speakers

Translator English - Spanish

unicornio
570 millions of speakers

English

unicorn
510 millions of speakers

Translator English - Hindi

गेंडा
380 millions of speakers
ar

Translator English - Arabic

يونيكورن
280 millions of speakers

Translator English - Russian

единорог
278 millions of speakers

Translator English - Portuguese

unicórnio
270 millions of speakers

Translator English - Bengali

Unicorn
260 millions of speakers

Translator English - French

licorne
220 millions of speakers

Translator English - Malay

Unicorn
190 millions of speakers

Translator English - German

Einhorn
180 millions of speakers

Translator English - Japanese

ユニコーン
130 millions of speakers

Translator English - Korean

유니콘
85 millions of speakers

Translator English - Javanese

Unicorn
85 millions of speakers
vi

Translator English - Vietnamese

kỳ lân
80 millions of speakers

Translator English - Tamil

யூனிகார்ன்
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Marathi

एक काल्पनिक एकशृंगी घोडा
75 millions of speakers

Translator English - Turkish

tek boynuzlu at
70 millions of speakers

Translator English - Italian

unicorno
65 millions of speakers

Translator English - Polish

jednorożec
50 millions of speakers

Translator English - Ukrainian

єдиноріг
40 millions of speakers

Translator English - Romanian

inorog
30 millions of speakers
el

Translator English - Greek

μονόκερος
15 millions of speakers
af

Translator English - Afrikaans

buffel
14 millions of speakers
sv

Translator English - Swedish

unicorn
10 millions of speakers
no

Translator English - Norwegian

unicorn
5 millions of speakers

Trends of use of unicorn

TRENDS

TENDENCIES OF USE OF THE TERM «UNICORN»

The term «unicorn» is very widely used and occupies the 13.177 position in our list of most widely used terms in the English dictionary.
0
100%
FREQUENCY
Very widely used
94
/100
The map shown above gives the frequency of use of the term «unicorn» in the different countries.
Principal search tendencies and common uses of unicorn
List of principal searches undertaken by users to access our English online dictionary and most widely used expressions with the word «unicorn».

FREQUENCY OF USE OF THE TERM «UNICORN» OVER TIME

The graph expresses the annual evolution of the frequency of use of the word «unicorn» during the past 500 years. Its implementation is based on analysing how often the term «unicorn» appears in digitalised printed sources in English between the year 1500 and the present day.

Examples of use in the English literature, quotes and news about unicorn

EXAMPLES

6 QUOTES WITH «UNICORN»

Famous quotes and sentences with the word unicorn.
1
John Battelle
The truth is, truly passionate media creators don't get into the media business to make huge gains from spectacular unicorn exits. When it happens, we certainly all cheer (and perhaps secretly hope it happens to us). But the fact is, we make media because we don't know what else to do with ourselves. It's how we're wired, so to speak.
2
Jean Giraud
A legend - now I am like a unicorn.
3
Bruno Mars
Don't you love it that Prince doesn't use Twitter? Don't you think he's somewhere on a unicorn?
4
Patrick Rothfuss
Fantasy is my favorite genre for reading and writing. We have more options than anyone else, and the best props and special effects. That means if you want to write a fantasy story with Norse gods, sentient robots, and telepathic dinosaurs, you can do just that. Want to throw in a vampire and a lesbian unicorn while you're at it? Go ahead.
5
Gloria Vanderbilt
The minute that you bring a unicorn into a story, you know that it's a fairy tale or a fable, because unicorns don't exist as animals. They exist as fantasy creatures.
6
Gabrielle Zevin
I'm like a unicorn; I'm a midlist writer who hasn't done anything else but write. But because I wasn't amazingly famous, I didn't become Stephanie Meyer, or even a huge literary name like a Jonathan Franzen or a Joshua Ferris.

10 ENGLISH BOOKS RELATING TO «UNICORN»

Discover the use of unicorn in the following bibliographical selection. Books relating to unicorn and brief extracts from same to provide context of its use in English literature.
1
The Last Unicorn: The Lost Version
Story of a unicorn lost in the modern world.
Peter S. Beagle, 2006
2
Bad Unicorn
It wasn’t Max Spencer’s idea to fight robots, lead an army, or save the world—it just so happens that he’s the only living person who can read the most fantastical book ever written: The Codex of Infinite Knowability.
Platte F. Clark, 2013
3
The Crystal Unicorn
While shopping with her mum, Gina sees a beautiful glass unicorn, and slips it in to her pocket, But then she realises that she will never be able to enjoy it, because she stole it.
Julie Mitchell, 2000
4
The Thirteenth Unicorn
While spending the summer with their grandparents, on a remote farm in South Carolina, Ben Alderman and his sister Casey uncover a hidden world of magic; a world their grandmother is secretly visiting.
W. D. Newman, 2011
5
The Lion and the Unicorn
As Lenny's father goes off to fight in the second world war he gives his son a brass badge with a lion and a unicorn on it.
Shirley Hughes, 2000
6
Raising Unicorns: Your Step-by-Step Guide to Starting and ...
"Includes the rainbow-filled principles for unicornomics!"
Jessica S. Marquis, 2011
7
Unicorn Magic: How to Manifest Your Desires by Living a Life ...
The teachings in this book will transform your life!
Kitty Bishop, Kitty Bishop Ph D, 2011
8
Why Unicorn Drinks
A follow-up to Unicorn Being a Jerk, this volume of 67 four-color illustrations and captions gives readers a glimpse into the sad reality of life as a mythical creature, and reveals what drives Unicorn to the bottle.
C. W. Moss, 2013
9
The Shadow Unicorn
With eleven gorgeous illustrations by David Bordeleau, this book is sure to enchant readers who love fantasy adventures.
Vicki Blum, Bordeleau, David, 2000
10
The Unicorn Treasury: Stories, Poems, and Unicorn Lore
A collections of stories, poems and folklore from a variety of sources about the origins and unique characteristics of the unicorn.
Bruce Coville, 2004

10 NEWS ITEMS WHICH INCLUDE THE TERM «UNICORN»

Find out what the national and international press are talking about and how the term unicorn is used in the context of the following news items.
1
That wacky unicorn DLC for Trials Fusion is here
Besides the weird unicorn stuff, which spans eight tracks and some mini-games, the expansion includes RedLynx vs. All-Stars, a collection of "more than 20 ... «Destructoid, Jul 15»
2
Taco, unicorn, cheese and 34 other emoji are coming to a phone …
The Unicode Consortium has today released Unicode 8, an update to the specification that defines official emoji, so we get our first glimpse at what's coming in ... «The Next Web, Jun 15»
3
Trials Fusion expansion features a cat riding a unicorn
Nevertheless, the Trials Fusion expansion pack—called Awesome Level Max—does let you play as a cat riding a fire-breathing unicorn. If that isn't worth a news ... «PC Gamer, Jun 15»
4
Billion-dollar tech start-ups on the increase in Europe
Europe has produced 13 “unicorns” — technology start ups that have reached a value of at least $1bn — over the past year, according to new research that ... «Financial Times, Jun 15»
5
Domo raises $200m Series D, obtains unicorn status with $2b …
James finally disclosed exactly what his newly fledged Unicorn startup was (the new round values Domo at $2 billion) at its first user conference, Domopalooza, ... «SiliconANGLE, Apr 15»
6
Silicon Valley mulls invasion of $1 billion 'unicorns'
New York (AFP) - When social media software firm Sprinklr unveiled its latest funding last month, it vaulted into the club of "unicorns," or tech startups worth at ... «Business Insider, Apr 15»
7
Julianne Hough's Pink Hair Makes Her A 'Unicorn'
Julianne Hough is a unicorn now. The "Dancing With the Stars" judge dyed her blond hair pink and showed fans the new hue on Facebook and Instagram ... «Huffington Post, Apr 15»
8
Searching for 'The Last Unicorn' in the wildness of Laos
The premise of "The Last Unicorn" is simple: DeBuys tagged along with biologist William Robichaud for a trek through the forests and waterways of central Laos ... «Yahoo News UK, Mar 15»
9
Myleene Klass shames 'bonkers' parents for seeking birthday …
She suggested her daughter might like a unicorn as her birthday gift, adding that ... Another said: "It will be forever more known as pulling a 'unicorn' when you ... «Telegraph.co.uk, Feb 15»
10
Canadian silver medallist in skeleton sliding on 'unicorn farts'
"It's like sliding on unicorn farts," the 20-year-old from Calgary said Friday. Hmmm, that's an interesting way of putting it. Vathje added her name to a list of ... «Toronto Sun, Jan 15»

REFERENCE
« EDUCALINGO. Unicorn [online]. Available <https://educalingo.com/en/dic-en/unicorn>. May 2024 ».
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