Moloch
[ moh-lok, mol-uh k ]
/ ˈmoʊ lɒk, ˈmɒl ək /
noun
a deity whose worship was marked by the propitiatory sacrifice of children by their own parents. II Kings 23:10; Jer. 32:35.
anything conceived of as requiring appalling sacrifice: the Moloch of war.
(lowercase)
a spiny agamid lizard, Moloch horridus, of Australian deserts, that resembles the horned lizard.
Also
Molech
(for defs 1, 2).
Origin of Moloch
< Late Latin (Vulgate)
Moloch < Greek (Septuagint)
Móloch < Hebrew
Mōlekh, variant of
melekh king
Example sentences from the Web for moloch
British Dictionary definitions for moloch (1 of 2)
moloch
/ (ˈməʊlɒk) /
noun
a spiny Australian desert-living lizard, Moloch horridus, that feeds on ants: family Agamidae (agamas)
Also called: mountain devil, spiny lizard
British Dictionary definitions for moloch (2 of 2)
Moloch
Molech (ˈməʊlɛk)
/ (ˈməʊlɒk) /
noun
Old Testament
a Semitic deity to whom parents sacrificed their children
Cultural definitions for moloch
Moloch
[ (moh-lok, mol-uhk) ]
A Canaanite idol who demanded the sacrifice of first-born children. The Old Testament prophets railed against the worship of Moloch by the Israelites.
notes for Moloch
Moloch also appears as one of the fallen angels in
Milton's Paradise Lost and as a malevolent figure in other allegorical works of literature.
notes for Moloch
By extension, a “Moloch” is something that has the power to exact extreme sacrifice.