Definition

1. Proper noun:
   • Meyer Guggenheim: A United States industrialist (born in Switzerland) who, with his sons, established vast mining and metal processing companies (1828-1905).
   • Solomon R. Guggenheim: A United States philanthropist; son of Meyer Guggenheim who created several foundations to support the arts (1861-1949).

Usage Examples

• Proper noun:
  • The Guggenheim fortune originated with Meyer Guggenheim's mining ventures.
  • The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York is a famous landmark.

Advanced Usage

• "Guggenheim" as a metonym: The name is often used to refer to the institutions, museums, or the legacy associated with the family.
  • Her artwork was exhibited at the Guggenheim. (Here, "Guggenheim" refers to a museum founded by the Guggenheim family, such as the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum.)

Variants and Related Words

• Guggenheim Museum (n): A museum of modern and contemporary art, most notably the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City, designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
• Guggenheim Foundation (n): A philanthropic organization established by members of the Guggenheim family to support art and scholarship.

Synonyms

• Industrialist (for Meyer Guggenheim): captain of industry, tycoon, magnate.
• Philanthropist (for Solomon R. Guggenheim): benefactor, patron, donor.

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "A Guggenheim": Informally, this can refer to a prestigious Guggenheim Fellowship, a grant awarded by the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation.
  • She won a Guggenheim to complete her novel.

Noun

1. United States industrialist (born in Switzerland) who with his sons established vast mining and metal processing companies (1828-1905)
2. United States philanthropist; son of Meyer Guggenheim who created several foundations to support the arts (1861-1949)