magnum

[ mag-nuh m ]
/ ˈmæg nəm /

noun

a large wine bottle having a capacity of two ordinary bottles or 1.5 liters (1.6 quarts).
a magnum cartridge or firearm.

adjective

(of a cartridge) equipped with a larger charge than other cartridges of the same size.
(of a firearm) using such a cartridge.
Informal. unusually great in power or size: a magnum spotlight; a magnum dosage.

Origin of magnum

1780–90; < Latin, neuter of magnus large; in reference to firearms, orig. used as a trademark by the Smith and Wesson Co.

Example sentences from the Web for magnum

British Dictionary definitions for magnum

magnum
/ (ˈmæɡnəm) /

noun plural -nums

a wine bottle holding the equivalent of two normal bottles (approximately 52 fluid ounces)

Word Origin for magnum

C18: from Latin: a big thing, from magnus large