Definition

1. Noun:
   • The principal bullfighter in a Spanish-style bullfight: A matador is the main performer in a corrida (bullfight), whose specific, appointed role is to execute the final series of passes with a cape and ultimately kill the bull with a sword.

Usage

• The term is used specifically in the context of Spanish and Latin American bullfighting.
• It refers to the lead performer who faces the bull in the final, fatal stage of the fight.
• It is a formal title and role within the spectacle.

Examples

Advanced Usage

• "Matador de toros": The full Spanish title, literally "killer of bulls," emphasizing the role's ultimate function.
• In a metaphorical or figurative sense, "matador" can sometimes refer to a person who confronts and overcomes a powerful opponent or challenge, though this is a literary extension of its core meaning.

Variants and Related Words

• Bullfighter: A more general term for any participant in a bullfight, including picadors and banderilleros, not just the matador.
• Torero: The Spanish word for a bullfighter; a matador is a type of torero.
• Picador: A bullfighter on horseback who lances the bull's neck muscles.
• Banderillero: A bullfighter who places barbed sticks (banderillas) into the bull's shoulders.

Synonyms

• Bullfighter (though this is a broader category)
• Torero (Spanish equivalent)

Idioms and Phrases

• While there are no common English idioms with "matador," the image of the matador is culturally potent, often symbolizing grace under pressure, artistry in the face of danger, or a fatal confrontation.

Noun

1. the principal bullfighter who is appointed to make the final passes and kill the bull