sphinx

A noun referring to a person who is mysterious or difficult to understand, or to a large ancient Egyptian stone statue with a lion's body and a human head.

deSubstantiv, das eine rätselhafte oder schwer zu verstehende Person bezeichnet oder eine große altägyptische Steinfigur mit Löwenkörper und Menschenkopf.ruСуществительное, обозначающее человека, который является загадочным или трудным для понимания, или большую древнеегипетскую каменную статую с телом льва и головой человека.esSustantivo que designa una gran estatua de piedra del antiguo Egipto con cuerpo de león y cabeza humana, o bien a una persona que resulta enigmática, misteriosa o difícil de comprender.frNom désignant une grande statue de l'Égypte antique au corps de lion et à la tête humaine, ou une personne énigmatique et difficile à comprendre.ptSubstantivo que designa uma pessoa enigmática ou difícil de compreender, ou uma grande estátua de pedra do Egito antigo com corpo de leão e cabeça humana.zh名词，指神秘难懂的人，也指古埃及大型石雕，狮身人面像。arاسم يشير إلى شخص غامض أو صعب الفهم، أو إلى تمثال حجري ضخم من الحضارة المصرية القديمة بجسم أسد ورأس إنسان.

1. Mythological creature B1 formal

   A mythical creature with the body of a lion and the head of a human, often associated with ancient Egyptian and Greek mythology.

   • The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous monuments in the world.
   • In Greek mythology, the Sphinx posed a riddle to travelers.
   • The ancient Egyptians built sphinxes to guard temples and tombs.

   deMythologische KreaturruМифическое существоesEsfinge (criatura mitológica)frsphinx (créature mythologique)ptCriatura míticazh斯芬克斯arمخلوق أسطوري

2. Mysterious or enigmatic person B2 formal

   A person who is difficult to understand or who keeps their thoughts and intentions secret.

   • He remained a sphinx, never revealing his true feelings.
   • The politician was a sphinx, giving no clear answers to the reporters.
   • She is a sphinx when it comes to her personal life.

   deRätselhafte PersonruЗагадочный человекesPersona enigmática o misteriosafrPersonne énigmatiqueptPessoa enigmáticazh神秘莫测的人arشخص غامض

   Synonyme: closed bookenigmamysterypuzzleriddle

• sphinxes plural form
• sphinxes' possessive plural form
• sphinx's possessive singular form