Definition

1. Noun:
   • A bullfighter on horseback who uses a lance: A picador is a mounted bullfighter who participates in the early stage of a traditional bullfight. His primary role is to pierce the bull's neck muscles with a lance (a pica) to weaken the animal, provoke its charge, and make it lower its head for the subsequent stages of the fight.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The picador entered the ring on a heavily padded horse.
  • The bull's first charge was directed at the picador and his steed.

Advanced Usage

• The term is used almost exclusively in the context of Spanish-style bullfighting (). It describes a specific, formal role within that spectacle.
• "to play the picador": This metaphorical usage is rare but can mean to provoke or goad someone in a persistent, irritating manner, similar to the picador's role in inciting the bull.
  • In the debate, he seemed to play the picador, constantly needling his opponent with minor points.

Variants and Related Words

• Picar (verb, Spanish): The Spanish verb meaning "to prick" or "to sting," from which "picador" is derived.
• Pica (noun): The long lance used by the picador.
• Banderillero (noun): The bullfighter who places the decorated darts () into the bull's shoulders, a role that follows the picador's.
• Matador (noun): The principal bullfighter who ultimately kills the bull with a sword.

Synonyms

• Lancer: (In the specific context of bullfighting) A general term for someone who uses a lance.
• Horseman: (In the specific context of bullfighting) Emphasizes the mounted aspect of the role.

Related Phrases

• No direct phrasal verbs exist for this specific noun.

Related Idioms

• No common English idioms are directly derived from this word. Its idiomatic use is largely confined to metaphorical extensions of its literal bullfighting role, as seen in the "play the picador" example above.

Noun

1. the horseman who pricks the bull with a lance early in the bullfight to goad the bull and to make it keep its head low