giant 582
**gi·ant¹** /ˈdʒaɪənt/ *n* **1 gi·ant·ess** /-tes/ *fem.* — (in children's stories) a creature in the form of an extremely tall strong man, especially one who is cruel to humans **2** a man who is much bigger than is usual **3** a person of great ability: *Shakespeare is a giant among writers.* | *sporting giants of the past* $\rightarrow$ see also RED GIANT **4** a very large company: *Honda is a giant in the international market.*
**giant²** *adj* [A] extremely large: *The giant (size) packet gives you more for less money.* | *a giant US electronics corporation*
**'giant ,killer** *n especially BrE* a person, sports team etc, that defeats a much stronger opponent $\rightarrow$ see also JACK AND THE BEANSTALK
**,giant 'panda** also **panda** *n* a large bear-like animal from China that has black and white fur
**,Giant's 'Causeway, the** a group of unusually shaped rocks on the coast of Northern Ireland, which were formed by a flow of LAVA into the sea. According to old stories, they were used as a path for GIANTS crossing from Ireland to Scotland.
**gib·ber** /ˈdʒɪbəʳ/ *BrE* || **jabber** *AmE* — *v* [I] to talk very fast, especially because of fear or shock, in a way that is meaningless for the hearer: *What on earth are you gibbering about? Pull yourself together and speak calmly!* | *a gibbering idiot*
**gib·ber·ish** /ˈdʒɪbərɪʃ/ *n* [U] sounds, talk, or writing that is meaningless or hard to understand: *This essay is pure gibberish; you'll get no marks for it at all.*
**gib·bet** /ˈdʒɪbɪt/ *n* a wooden post with another piece at right angles at the top, from which in former times criminals were hanged by the neck until dead
**gib·bon** /ˈɡɪbən/ *n* an animal like a monkey with no tail and long arms, which lives in trees in Asia and is the smallest APE
**gib·bous** /ˈɡɪbəs/ *adj tech* (of the moon) having the bright part filling more than half a circle
**gibe, jibe** /dʒaɪb/ *n* [(about, at)] a remark which makes someone look foolish, or points out someone's faults: *a gibe at the prime minister.* —**gibe** *at phr v* [T]
**GI Bill, the** /ˌdʒiː 'aɪ ˌbɪl/ a law passed in the US in 1944, which makes it possible for people who have served in the army, navy etc to continue their education and receive other benefits: *He went to college on the GI Bill.*
**gib·lets** /ˈdʒɪblɪts/ *n* [P] the parts of a bird, such as the heart and LIVER, which are taken out before the bird is cooked, but may themselves be cooked and eaten
**Gi·bral·tar** /dʒɪˈbrɔːltəʳ/ a town and port on the Rock of Gibraltar on the southern coast of Spain. It has belonged to the UK since 1713, but the Spanish government would like it to belong to Spain. Many tourists visit Gibraltar. —**Gibraltarian** /ˌdʒɪbrɔːlˈteəriən/ *n, adj*
> **CULTURAL NOTE** Although Spain wants Gibraltar back, a famous story says that Britain will only leave Gibraltar when all the Barbary APEs (=a type of monkey) that live there leave or die.
**Gib·son, Guy** /ˈɡɪbsən, ɡaɪ/ (1918-44), a British Royal Air Force WING COMMANDER who led the World War II 'Dam Busters' bombing RAID on the German Mohne and Eder dams in 1943, for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross
**Gibson, Mel** /mel/ (1956-) an actor known especially for playing strong, brave men in films such as the *Mad Max* series (1979-2004), the *Lethal Weapon* series (1987-98), and *Braveheart* (1995). He is also known for making *The Passion of the Christ*, a film about the CRUCIFIXION of Jesus Christ. The film was popular with Christians, especially in the US, but many Jewish people criticized the way Jews were DePICTed (=shown) in the film.
**gid·dy** /ˈɡɪdi/ *adj* **1** feeling unsteady, usually in an unpleasant way, as though everything is moving round oneself and/or as though one is falling; DIZZY: *The children enjoyed twirling round and round, but I felt giddy just watching them.* **2** [A] causing a feeling of unsteady movement and/or falling: *We looked down from a giddy height.* **3** *infml, BrE old-fash or AmE not serious*; too interested in amusement; FRIVOLOUS —**-dily** *adv*: *He reeled giddily across the room.* —**-diness** *n* [U] *a sudden attack of giddiness*
**'giddy up** (used as a command to a horse) Go faster!
**Gid·e·on Bi·ble** /ˌɡɪdiən 'baɪbəl/ *n* a Bible that is put in a hotel room or similar place by a member of a Christian organization called the Gideons, who encourage people to read the Bible by giving them a copy of it
**Giel·gud, Sir John** /'ɡiːlɡʊd/ (1904-2000) an English actor and director who is famous for playing many parts from Shakespeare's plays, as well as making film appearances, e.g. in *Arthur* in 1981 when he won an Oscar
**Sir John Gielgud**
**gift** /ɡɪft/ *n* **1** something which is given willingly; a present: *Christmas gifts* | *My grandmother made me a gift of her silver cutlery.* | *With each packet of soap powder you get a free gift of a plastic flower.* | *a gift shop (=that sells things suitable to be given as presents)* | *That legacy of £5000 was a gift from the Gods. (=something very desirable got by lucky chance)* | *(fig.) The last question in my exam paper was a gift. (=very easy)* $\rightarrow$ see also GOD'S GIFT **2** [(for)] a natural ability to do something; TALENT: *She has a gift for music/for learning languages.* | *Her tactfulness is a remarkable gift.* $\rightarrow$ see also GIFTED **3** [C usually sing.] *BrE infml* something obtained easily or cheaply: *At £2 it's a gift!* **4** gift of the gab *infml* the ability to speak well continuously, and especially to persuade people **5** in some·one's gift *BrE fml* in someone's power to give, to whoever they want: *The chairmanship of this committee is in the gift of the minister/in the minister's gift.*
**'gift cer,tificate** *n AmE* for GIFT TOKEN
**gift·ed** /ˈɡɪftɪd/ *adj* having one or more special abilities; TALENTED: *a very gifted musician*
**,gifted 'child** *n* a child that is generally very clever or clever in one particular subject: *a school for gifted children*
**'gift horse** *n* **Don't/Never look a gift horse in the mouth** *infml* Be grateful for something that is given to you, without asking questions about it or finding fault with it
**'gift ,token** also **'gift ,voucher** *BrE* || **'gift cer,tificate** *AmE* — *n* a gift card for a certain value that can be exchanged for an article in a shop: *My aunt gave me a £10 gift token for Christmas.*
**'gift-wrap** *v -pp-* [T] to wrap (especially something intended as a present) to make it look attractive: *Some shops provide a gift-wrapping service.*
**gig¹** /ɡɪɡ/ *n infml* **1** a performance by a musician or group of musicians playing modern popular music or JAZZ e.g. at a concert or club: *The band played a final gig in Amsterdam before splitting up.* | *a fantastic gig* **2** an arrangement for such a performance; BOOKING —**gig** *v, -gg-* [I]
**gig²** *n* a small two-wheeled carriage pulled by one horse and used especially in former times
**gig·a·byte** /ˈɡɪɡəbaɪt/ *abbrev.* gb *n tech* one BILLION BYTES: *a computer with a 10 gigabyte hard drive*
**gi·gan·tic** /daɪˈɡæntɪk/ *adj* extremely large in amount or size: *a gigantic building* | *The company has made gigantic losses this year.* —**-ally** /-kli/ *adv*
**Gi·ger, H.R.** /ˈɡiːɡəʳ/ (1940-) a Swiss painter and designer who makes creatures for SCIENCE FICTION films, and is known especially for the creature in the film *Alien*
**gig·gle¹** /ˈɡɪɡəl/ *v* [I] to laugh quietly in a silly childish uncontrolled way; often in a way which suggests that one is laughing about someone or something secret, which one finds amusing: *Stop giggling, girls; this is a serious matter.* | *a fit of hysterical giggling* $\rightarrow$ see LAUGH (USAGE)
**giggle²** *n* **1** [C] an act of giggling: *George has got the giggles again. (=is having a fit of giggling)* **2** [S] *infml, especially BrE* something that amuses; PRANK: *Wouldn't it be a giggle to tie his shoelaces together while he isn't looking!* | *They only did it for a giggle.*
**gig·gly** /ˈɡɪɡli/ *adj* giggling a lot: *a giggly schoolgirl*