(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
A ~ is someone who is killed or made to suffer greatly because of their religious or political beliefs, and is admired and respected by people who share those beliefs.
...a glorious ~ to the cause of liberty.
...a Christian ~...
N-COUNT: oft N to n
2.
If someone is ~ed, they are killed or made to suffer greatly because of their religious or political beliefs.
St Pancras was ~ed in 304 AD.
...whether its ~ed leader is released or not.
VERB: usu passive, be V-ed, V-ed
3.
If you refer to someone as a ~, you disapprove of the fact that they pretend to suffer, or exaggerate their suffering, in order to get sympathy or praise from other people.
When are you going to quit acting like a ~?
N-COUNT disapproval
4.
If you say that someone is a ~ to something, you mean that they suffer as a result of it.
Ellsworth was a ~ to his sense of honour and responsibility...
N-COUNT: usu N to n
5.
see also ~ed