legend

noun

1. 1

   The life story of a saint (such stories are often embellished, but any kind is called a legend).

   As a child she had nothing to read but the legends of early Christian martyrs.

2. 2

   An unrealistic story depicting past events. A story of unknown origin describing plausible but extraordinary past events.

   The legend of Troy was discovered to have a historical basis.

3. 3

   An unrealistic story depicting past events. A plausible story set in the historical past, but whose historicity is uncertain.

   the legend of Robin Hood

4. 4

   An unrealistic story depicting past events. A story in which a kernel of truth is embellished to an unlikely degree.

   The 1984 Rose Bowl prank has spawned many legends. Here's the real story.

5. 5

   An unrealistic story depicting past events. A fabricated backstory for a spy, with associated documents and records.

   According to his legend, he once worked for the Red Cross, spreading humanitarian aid in Africa.

   If the documents are needed to establish "a light legend," meaning a superficial cover story, no steps are taken to make sure that if someone calls the college or motor vehicle department, the name on the document will be registered.

   Sorge solidified his own position by returning to Germany and developing a new legend. He joined the Nazi Party[…].

   Both the agent's legend and documents were intended to stand up against casual questions from Soviet citizens, such as during a job interview, or a routine police document check, such as were made at railway stations.

6. 6

   Such stories considered collectively; unverified traditional tales.

   According to ancient legend, a Greek girl, partaking of saffron for an entire week, could not resist a lover.

7. 7

   A person related to a legend or legends. A leading protagonist in a historical legend.

   Achilles is a legend in Greek culture.

8. 8

   A person related to a legend or legends. A person of extraordinary fame or accomplishments.

   Michael Jordan stands as a legend in basketball.

   Sachin Tendulkar stands as a legend in cricket.

9. 9

   slangA person related to a legend or legends. A person of extraordinary fame or accomplishments. A cool, nice or helpful person, especially one who is male.

   I've lost my pen! —Here mate, borrow mine. —You legend.

10. 10

    A key to the symbols and color codes on a map, chart, etc.

    According to the legend on the map, that building is a school.

11. 11

    An inscription, motto, or title, especially one surrounding the field in a medal or coin, or placed upon a heraldic shield or beneath an engraving or illustration.

    Further clues are provided by milk-floats bearing the legend 'Lord Rayleigh's Dairies: A Family Business', and a number of signs indicating the whereabouts of various departments of Lord Rayleigh's Farms.

    […]there were three small brass coins there, the gift of Ymar. Their legends, like their faces, had worn away; and they were dark with verdigris — in appearance precisely the ancient things they were.

12. 12

    A musical composition set to a poetical story.

13. 13

    The design and specification of a vessel.

    The legend displacement on the basis then in use was 48,000 tons, the corresponding standard displacement as defined by the Washington Treaty being 47,540 tons.

    The legend and sketch designs were submitted to the Board on 27th March 1916 and, after examining a model and the drawings, the Sea Lords generally favoured proposal 'B'; the extra weight involved being acceptable.

verb

1. 1

   archaicTo tell or narrate; to recount.

   Nor ladie's wanton love , nor wand'ring knight, Legend I out in rymes all richly dight

Forms

plural

legends

past tense

legended

past participle

legended

present participle

legending

third person singular

legends