eunuch

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈjuːnək/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈjunək/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(yo̅o̅′nək)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
eu•nuch /ˈyunək/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. World Historya castrated man.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
eu•nuch  (yo̅o̅′nək),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. World Historya castrated man, esp. one formerly employed by Oriental rulers as a harem guard or palace official.
  • Greek eunoûchos eunuch, chamberlain, equivalent. to eune-, stem of euné̄ bed, place of sleeping + -ochos keeping (akin to échein to hold
  • Latin eunūchus
  • Middle English eunuk 1350–1400

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
eunuch / ˈjuːnək/
  1. a man who has been castrated, esp (formerly) for some office such as a guard in a harem
  2. an ineffective person: a political eunuch
Etymology: 15th Century: via Latin from Greek eunoukhos attendant of the bedchamber, from eunē bed + ekhein to have, keep
'eunuch' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
An Lu Shan - eunuchism - eunuchize - eunuchoid - gelding - spado

Forum discussions with the word(s) "eunuch" in the title:


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