/tawr'euh boh"lee euhm/ , n. , pl. taurobolia /-lee euh/ .
1. the sacrifice of a bull, followed by the baptism of neophytes in the blood, as practiced in the ancient rites of Mithras or Cybele.
2. Fine Arts. a representation of the killing of a bull, as in Mithraic art.
[ 1690-1700; taurobólion, equiv. to tauroból ( os ) bull sacrifice ( taûro ( s ) bull + bólos a cast, throw, akin to bolé a wound, bállein to throw) + -ion dim. suffix ]