Standard Lemma guide

Bucephalus

name · noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

name

Meaning 1

The warhorse of Alexander the Great.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: historical

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Any horse used for riding.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: humorous

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

That which is the greatest of its kind.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, obsolete

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin Būcephalus, from Ancient Greek Βουκέφαλος, Βουκεφάλας (Bouképhalos, Boukephálas), from βοῦς (boûs, “ox”) + κεφᾰλή (kephălḗ, “head”) + -ᾱς (-ās).

Across languages

Translations

10 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Danish: Bukephalos — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Finnish: Bukefalos — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Ancient Greek: Βουκεφᾰ́λᾱς (Boukephắlās) — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Hungarian: Bukephalosz — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Latin: Būcephalus — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Macedonian: Бу́кефал (Búkefal) — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Marathi: बुसेफालस (busephālas) — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Marathi: बौकेफालोस (baukephālos) — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Polish: Bucefał — the warhorse of Alexander the Great
  • Portuguese: Bucéfalo — the warhorse of Alexander the Great