LEGEND


Meaning of LEGEND in English

/ ˈledʒənd; NAmE / noun

1.

[ C , U ] a story from ancient times about people and events, that may or may not be true; this type of story

SYN myth :

the legend of Robin Hood

the heroes of Greek legend

Legend has it that the lake was formed by the tears of a god.

—compare urban myth

2.

[ C ] a very famous person, especially in a particular field, who is admired by other people :

a jazz / tennis, etc. legend

She was a legend in her own lifetime .

Many of golf's living legends were playing.

3.

[ C ] ( technical ) the explanation of a map or a diagram in a book

SYN key

4.

[ C ] ( formal ) a piece of writing on a sign, a label, a coin, etc.

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WORD ORIGIN

Middle English (in the sense story of a saint's life ): from Old French legende , from medieval Latin legenda things to be read, from Latin legere read. Sense 1 dates from the early 17th cent.

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.