sphinx
/sfɪŋks/
noun
- A mythical creature with the head of a person and the body of a lion, often shown with wings.
- The Great Sphinx of Giza is one of the most famous ancient statues in the world.
- In Greek mythology, the sphinx asked travelers a riddle and killed those who could not answer.
- The museum had a small stone carving of a sphinx from ancient Egypt.
- A person who is mysterious or difficult to understand.
- The new teacher was a sphinx, never revealing her opinions on anything.
- My grandfather was a sphinx; he rarely spoke about his past.
- He remained a sphinx during the entire meeting, not showing any emotion.
- A type of large moth with a long tongue, also called a hawk moth or hummingbird moth.
- The sphinx is known for its ability to fly like a hummingbird.
- A sphinx moth hovered near the flower, drinking nectar with its long proboscis.
- We saw a sphinx in the garden at dusk, moving quickly from bloom to bloom.