monster

The definition of a monster is a badly behaved or cruel person, something that is absurdly large, or a fictional and frightening creature.

(noun)

An example of a monster is a person who orders others killed just for his own amusement.
An example of a monster is a child who cannot behave in public and who throws temper tantrums all the time.
An example of a monster is a huge book that is 5000 pages long; a monster of a book.
An example of a monster is a an imaginary frightening creature that your child fears is hiding under his bed at night.

See monster in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

any plant or animal of abnormal shape or structure, as one greatly malformed or lacking some parts; monstrosity
any imaginary creature part human and part animal in form, as a centaur, or made up of the parts of two or more different animals, as a dragon
something monstrous
a person so cruel, wicked, depraved, etc. as to horrify others
any huge animal or thing
Pathology a malformed fetus, esp. one with an excess or deficiency of limbs or parts; teratism

Origin: ME monstre < OFr < L monstrum, divine portent of misfortune, monster < monere, to admonish, warn: see monitor

adjective

huge; enormous; monstrous

See monster in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

a. An imaginary or legendary creature, such as a centaur or Harpy, that combines parts from various animal or human forms.
b. A creature having a strange or frightening appearance.
An animal, a plant, or other organism having structural defects or deformities.
Pathology A fetus or an infant that is grotesquely abnormal and usually not viable.
A very large animal, plant, or object.
One who inspires horror or disgust: a monster of selfishness.

adjective

Informal Extremely large; monstrous: a monster hit at the box office; ate a monster steak.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English monstre

Origin: , from Old French

Origin: , from Latin mōnstrum, portent, monster

Origin: , from monēre, to warn; see men-¹ in Indo-European roots

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