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monarch

Pronunciation: /ˈmɒnək/

Translate monarch | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of monarch

noun

  • 1a sovereign head of state, especially a king, queen, or emperor: the reigning monarch this followed an attempt by the deposed monarch to regain his throne
  • 2 (also monarch butterfly) a large migratory orange and black butterfly that occurs mainly in North America. The caterpillar feeds on milkweed, using the toxins in the plant to render both itself and the adult unpalatable to predators. Also called milkweed.
    • Danaus plexippus, subfamily Danainae, family Nymphalidae
  • 3 (also monarch flycatcher) a flycatcher found in Africa, Asia, and Australasia, typically having boldly marked or colourful plumage.
    • Family Monarchidae (the monarch flycatcher family): many genera and numerous species

Derivatives

monarchal

Pronunciation: /məˈnɑːk(ə)l/

adjective

monarchial

Pronunciation: /məˈnɑːkɪəl/

adjective

monarchic

Pronunciation: /məˈnɑːkɪk/

adjective

monarchical

Pronunciation: /məˈnɑːkɪk(ə)l/

adjective

monarchically

Pronunciation: /məˈnɑːkɪk(ə)li/

adverb

Origin:

late Middle English: from late Latin monarcha, from Greek monarkhēs, from monos 'alone' + arkhein 'to rule'

monarch in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of monarch in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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