albatross
al·ba·tross
(ăl′bə-trôs′, -trŏs′)n. pl. albatross or al·ba·tross·es
1. Any of several large web-footed birds constituting the family Diomedeidae, chiefly of the oceans of the Southern Hemisphere, and having a hooked beak and long narrow wings.
[Probably alteration (influenced by Latin albus, white) of alcatras, pelican, from Portuguese or Spanish alcatraz, from Arabic al-ġaṭṭās : al-, the + ġaṭṭās, diver, sea eagle (from ġaṭasa, to plunge, dive; see ġṭs in Semitic roots). Sense 2, after the albatross in "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, which the mariner killed and had to wear around his neck as a penance .]
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
albatross
(ˈælbəˌtrɒs)n
1. (Animals) any large oceanic bird of the genera Diomedea and Phoebetria, family Diomedeidae, of cool southern oceans: order Procellariiformes (petrels). They have long narrow wings and are noted for a powerful gliding flight. See also wandering albatross
2. a constant and inescapable burden or handicap: an albatross of debt.
3. (Golf) golf a score of three strokes under par for a hole
[C17: from Portuguese alcatraz pelican, from Arabic al-ghattās, from al the + ghattās white-tailed sea eagle; influenced by Latin albus white: C20 in sense 2, from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner (1798) by Samuel Taylor Coleridge]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
al•ba•tross
(ˈæl bəˌtrɔs, -ˌtrɒs)n., pl. -tross•es, (esp. collectively) -tross for 1.
1. Also called gooney bird. any of several large, web-footed, mostly white birds of the family Diomedeidae, of S and tropical oceanic waters, having a large wingspread and able to remain aloft for long periods.
2. a seemingly inescapable moral or emotional burden, as of guilt or responsibility.
3. something burdensome that impedes action or progress.
[1675–85; variant of algatross frigate bird < Portuguese alcatraz pelican]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
albatross
Three under par for a hole.
Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | albatross - (figurative) something that hinders or handicaps; "she was an albatross around his neck" |
| 2. |  albatross - large web-footed birds of the southern hemisphere having long narrow wings; noted for powerful gliding flight |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
albatross
nounan albatross around your neck burden, worry, trouble, trial, weight, heavy responsibility, stress, anxiety, liability, obstruction, millstone, encumbrance The drive towards privatization could become a political albatross around the party's neck
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
albatros
albatrossi
albatrosburnica
albatross
albatross
[ˈælbətrɒs] N
2. (fig) (= burden) → rémora f
to be an albatross around sb's neck → suponer una rémora para algn
3. (Golf) → albatros m inv, menos tres m
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
albatross
[ˈælbətrɒs] n (= bird) → albatros m
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
albatross
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995