griffin

griffin — noun

1. an imaginary flying animal from ancient stories and legends, with an eagle's hea

1.名詞B1
釋義

an imaginary flying animal from ancient stories and legends, with an eagle's head, front legs, and wings joined to a lion's body, back legs, and tail — often shown guarding treasure or sacred places in art and literature.

例句

The knight had a golden griffin painted on his shield before the battle.

collocation: a golden griffin

A stone griffin with its wings spread wide stood above the castle's main gate.

collocation: a stone griffin

同義詞
  • griffon

    alternative common spelling, especially in French-influenced contexts

  • gryphon

    another spelling variant, popular in fantasy novels and games

用法筆記

Common in fantasy literature, heraldry, and art history. Often appears as part of a coat of arms or as a decorative stone carving on old buildings. The word may also be spelled 'griffon' or 'gryphon' in older texts.

常見錯誤

A griffin has a head of a lion and body of an eagle.
A griffin has an eagle's head and a lion's body.
💡the eagle part is the head and front; the lion part is the body and rear.

2. a small city in the state of Georgia, south-southeast of Atlanta, with a populat

2.名詞
釋義

a small city in the state of Georgia, south-southeast of Atlanta, with a population of around 24,000 people.

例句

The train from Atlanta to Griffin takes about an hour.

travel route: from [city] to Griffin

Griffin, Georgia has a historic downtown square with shops and a courthouse.

用法筆記

Proper noun sense. Always capitalised. The city takes its name from General Lewis Griffin, a railroad executive in the 19th century.

3. Walter Burley Griffin (1876–1937), an American architect and landscape designer

3.名詞
釋義

Walter Burley Griffin (1876–1937), an American architect and landscape designer best known for his design of Canberra, the capital city of Australia.

例句

Walter Burley Griffin won an international competition to design Canberra in 1912.

achievement: won competition to design Canberra

Many of Walter Burley Griffin's buildings still stand in the suburbs of Sydney today.

用法筆記

Full name 'Walter Burley Griffin' is usually used on first mention; 'Griffin' alone may follow. In Australian contexts, he is remembered alongside his wife and collaborator, Marion Mahony Griffin.