mythmyth /mɪθ/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable, uncountable] 
the myth of male superioritymyth that It was important to dispel the myth that AIDS was a gay disease.2an ancient story, especially one invented in order to explain natural or historical events: a book of Greek mythsmyth of the myth of Orpheus the giants of myth and fairytale → urban myth
► see thesaurus at storyCOLLOCATIONSverbscreate a myth· Stalin created a lot of myths about himself.believe a myth· People still believe the myth that money will bring them happiness.explode/dispel/debunk a myth (=show that it is not true)· Our goal is to debunk the myth that science is boring.perpetuate a myth (=make it continue)· Let’s stop perpetuating this myth.a myth grows up (=starts)· A number of myths have grown up about their relationship.a myth persists (=it continues)· The myth still persists that we need to build more roads.myth has it that ... (=there is a myth that)· Myth had it that Mrs Thatcher only needed four hours sleep a night.adjectivesa common/popular myth (=that many people believe)· Contrary to popular myth, most road accidents are not the result of speeding.a modern myth· Is it a modern myth that we are living in a classless society?a powerful myth (=that has a lot of influence on people)· There is a powerful myth that crime has increased – in fact there was much more crime 100 years ago.an enduring myth (=that has continued for a long time)· The idea that Kennedy was shot by the CIA is one of the enduring myths of our time.phrasesbe a complete/total myth· It’s a complete myth that eating carrots helps you to see in the dark.be a bit of a myth (=be not really true)· The whole story is a bit of a myth.the myths surrounding something (=relating to something)· the myths surrounding rural life
WORD ORIGINmyth
Origin:
1800-1900 Greek mythos ‘story, speech, myth’EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- a ballet based on a Greek myth
- It's just a myth that divorced dads don't care about their kids.
- It is a myth that battered women deserve or want to be beaten.
- Opera combines myth, music, and drama.
- The myth tells of how the gods sent fire to the earth in flashes of lightning.
- The first myth about motherhood is that new mothers instantly fall in love with their babies.
- The heroes of myth all had some point of weakness.
- And among all such positive forces, living myth stands first.
- Before proceeding further it would perhaps be as well to dispel one or two myths.
- But myths, folk tales, legends and, yes, religious stories are different.
- But her scenarios are without irony, studies of skin as flesh rather than repositories of myth and moral fable.
- However, neither myth nor truth stands alone in the objective sense.
- Instead, he has ambitiously attempted an updating of the Biblical myths that have always informed the act of literary creation.
- Some have concluded that the current-account deficit is a myth.
- This myth, it is apparent, exists in two aspects.
THESAURUS
a description of how something happened that is intended to entertain people, and may be true or imaginary: · a ghost story· a love story· It’s a story about a man who loses his memory.· a book of short stories
a story about strange imaginary events, or exciting events that happened in the past: · a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen· I loved hearing tales of his travels.
noun [countable, uncountable] a very old imaginary story about gods and magical creatures: · an ancient myth· Greek and Roman myths
noun [countable, uncountable] an old story about brave people or magical events that are probably not true: · popular legends of the creation of the world· According to legend, King Arthur was buried there.
a traditional imaginary short story that teaches a moral lesson, especially a story about animals: · the fable of the tortoise and the hare· a Chinese fable
a story told in a long book, film, or poem which is about great or exciting events, especially in history: · an epic about 13th-century Scottish hero William Wallace
a story about a series of events that take place over a long period of time, especially events involving one family: · a family saga beginning in the 1880s
informal a long exciting story that is not completely true: · The movie’s a rattling good yarn and full of action.
Longman Language Activatorsomething that someone believes that is definitely not true a belief or idea that is false, especially a belief in something good about yourself or about the situation you are in: · She thought he loved her but it was just an illusion.· Alcohol gives some people the illusion of being witty and confident.illusion that: · There seems to be a widespread illusion that there are no class barriers anymore.under an illusion: · People had bought these houses under the illusion that their value would just keep on rising.
something that a lot of people believe but which is completely untrue: · The idea that a good night's sleep will cure everything is a complete fallacy.· It's a fallacy that all fat people are fat simply because they eat too much.
something a lot of people believe because they want to believe it, not because it is based on fact: · The first myth about motherhood is that new mothers instantly fall in love with their babies.· It is a myth that battered women deserve or want to be beaten.
a completely mistaken idea about yourself or the situation you are in, especially one that everyone else knows is wrong: · She now had to finally forget the dreams and delusions of her youthunder a delusion: · I was still under the delusion that everyone was trying to cheat me.
a belief you have that is wrong, although you do not realize it is wrong at the time when you have it: · When I started as a teacher I had the mistaken belief that all kids are interested in learning.
something that is not true but which people believe because they do not have all the facts or they have not properly understood the situation: · No, it's not actually true that rail travel is more expensive - that's a misconception.misconception that: · Employers seem to share the general misconception that young people are more efficient than older workers.
a popular belief or piece of advice that has existed for a long time but which you think is stupid: · It's not true that if trees have a lot of fruit in the autumn it will be a cold winter - that's just an old wives' tale.
a story a description of real or imaginary events, which is told or written to entertain people: · All children love stories.· The film was OK, but I didn't think the story was very realistic.· a book of short storiestell/read somebody a story: · Sally, will you read us a story?story about: · Grandpa's always telling us stories about when he was a boystory of: · The movie tells the story of a young girl brought up in the Deep South in the 1930s.ghost/love story: · We sat around the fire telling ghost stories.fairy story (=a story about imaginary people, creatures, and events): · He looked like some giant from a fairy story.true story (=about events that really happened): · The film is based on a true story.
an exciting story about imaginary events: tale of: · 'Treasure Island' - a tale of pirates and adventuretell a tale: · She told us many tales about when our father was a child.fairy tale (=a story about imaginary creatures, people, and events): · Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tales
writing that describes imaginary people and events: · So much modern fiction is full of sex and violence.work of fiction: · Although it is a work of fiction, it is based on fact.crime/romantic/historical etc fiction: · Adopting the style of romantic fiction, she said, ''I love him passionately''.science fiction (=stories about imaginary future times): · a science fiction novel
a very old story, about gods and magical creatures: · The myth tells of how the gods sent fire to the earth in flashes of lightning.· a ballet based on a Greek myth· The heroes of myth all had some point of weakness.
an old story, usually about strange events or people with magic powers: · According to legend, the whole castle was washed into the sea.legend of: · the legend of Robin Hoodlegend has it (that) (=according to legend): · Legend has it that Sarah Heln, who died in 1913, was shut alive inside a lead coffin.
a short funny story about something that really happened: · Personal anecdotes have no place in an academic essay.anecdote about: · The book is full of amusing anecdotes about his time in the police force.
a story about a series of connected events or adventures that take place over a long period of time, especially events involving one family: · The novel is a historical saga, set in Tudor times.saga of: · Her saga of the rise and fall of a powerful family dynasty was a great commercial success.
a story told in a long book, film, or poem which is about great or exciting events, especially in history: · The film was billed as an epic -- an adventure story that would take the world and the box-office by storm.· The history of a single event has been spun out to fill a 255 page epic. epic poem/hero/style etc: · the epic poem "Beowulf'
WORD SETScentaur, nounchimera, nounCyclops, noundeity, noundemigod, nounfaun, noungod, noungriffin, noungryphon, nounHades, nounlegend, nounlotus, nounmyth, nounmythic, adjectivemythical, adjectivenymph, nounoracle, nounsaga, nounsatyr, nounsphinx, nounwyvern, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs We want to dispel the myth that you cannot eat well in Britain.
· Stalin created a lot of myths about himself.
· People still believe the myth that money will bring them happiness.
(=show that it is not true)· Our goal is to debunk the myth that science is boring.
(=make it continue)· Let’s stop perpetuating this myth.
(=starts)· A number of myths have grown up about their relationship.
(=it continues)· The myth still persists that we need to build more roads.
(=there is a myth that)· Myth had it that Mrs Thatcher only needed four hours sleep a night.
adjectives (=that many people believe)· Contrary to popular myth, most road accidents are not the result of speeding.
· Is it a modern myth that we are living in a classless society?
(=that has a lot of influence on people)· There is a powerful myth that crime has increased – in fact there was much more crime 100 years ago.
(=that has continued for a long time)· The idea that Kennedy was shot by the CIA is one of the enduring myths of our time.
phrases· It’s a complete myth that eating carrots helps you to see in the dark.
(=be not really true)· The whole story is a bit of a myth.
(=relating to something)· the myths surrounding rural life
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES We want to dispel the myth that you cannot eat well in Britain.· I read and reread the Greek myths and legends.
(=show that an idea was completely wrong)· Economic studies have shattered the myth that population growth is bad for a nation’s economy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Apples crop up everywhere from the dinner table to our most ancient myths and legends.· The theme is usually an ancient myth, belonging to the city or family to which the victor has brought new glory.· Balor An ancient Celtic myth explained the puzzle of creation through the story of Balor.
· One of the greatest myths in modern politics is that campaigns are too expensive.· There are a great number of myths that constantly need to be laid about school dinners.· In all great art, myth is reborn.· Many tales have been handed down and a great number of myths have been created around his memory.
· It was an understandable choice in an age of burgeoning national myths.· Along with the national myth comes a rich tradition of hagiography.
· Killing off old information or myths is extremely difficult.· The Biblical story does more than turn the older myth on its head.· Lind has written a polemic, provocative and engaging and infuriating to read, and useful when it blows up old myths.· Yet fiercely we cling to old myths that give comfort-justice is out there.· Yet the old myth of the entrepreneurial hero remains powerful.· Such treatment of an old myth is typical not only of Pindar but of his time.
· When missionaries first reached Santa's native Lapland, they found a thriving pagan myth of reindeer flight.· Rape is a staple in pagan myth, and killing still more commonplace.· Stone monuments from tenth and eleventh century Northumbria sometimes contain scenes from pagan myth and legend.· Even in translation, strange to say, pagan myth is little-read today.· Primitive and Pagan myth comprise the East and West winds of mythology.· We have every reason to be grateful for both sorts, as well as for pagan and primitive myth.· This, together with the re-emergence of pagan myth in general, fostered the full sunshine of the High Renaissance.· Namely, the inevitable decline of pagan myth.
· Contrary to popular myth Darwin was not thunderstruck by the theory of evolution during his voyage on the Beagle.· In addition, peo-ple have new questions, arising as often from media reports of scientific studies as from popular myth.· Contrary to popular myth, women have gained very little over the last ten years-and lost a lot.· Other popular myths also fail to withstand close scrutiny.· In fact, the Great and Good are not nearly as changed as popular myth would have it.· Contrary to the popular myth, Galileo seems to have performed few experiments in mechanics.· One popular myth needs, perhaps, to be dispelled at this stage.· Taxing poverty Popular myth has it that poor peasants and casual workers in the Third World do not pay tax.
· Or is he just an urban myth?· He lists a handful of false virus alerts and urban myths.
NOUN· What I have told you is a 50-year-old version of the creation myth.· Now it had disappeared, even as Mary's Diseased Creation myth had prophesied.· The laibon kicks off with a creation myth.· All he knew of the early Daurog myth was the creation myth.
VERB· Current test methods for accessing Average Seek Times are based on several myths.· The pain of childbirth, she asserts, is based on male myths.· This perception was partly based on myth.· It is more likely that the cosmogonic myths are the foundation on which an anthropological perspective was based.
· I should like the Minister to tell us whether he believes the myth about privatising the coal industry.· Men who make a living working with their hands tend to believe the myth more than men with desk jobs.· They believed in the myth and Diana could not bring herself to tell them the awful truth.· But families believe in their myths for reasons more compelling than respect for the versatility of metaphor.· And then people will believe the myth of Bartley, which was begotten by the myth of Jonah.· People not only believed in myth, they lived by it.
· He breaks out of the group's culture and psychology by creating a myth.· Every man, woman, and child creates myth / truth to a degree.· It helps nobody if a law is seen to create myths - Contract Journal.· But in his conclusions he manages only to create a new myth, which isn't useful at all.
· The intensive study of demographic records through the technique of family reconstitution has dispelled many myths.· It further calls for discussion within the trade union movement on this question, with a view to dispelling the myths that surround homosexuality.· To dispel another myth: we have not entirely evolved from this animal ability to use our senses for survival.· In this respect there is sometimes a need to dispel some of the myths which surround alcohol.· It aims at dispelling the myths about old age and at building a network of associations concerned with the issues of aging.· Direct contact helps dispel myths and dissolves stereotypes.· Before proceeding further it would perhaps be as well to dispel one or two myths.
· First, they explode various current myths.· The report explodes the myth that men are the bed-hopping rogues while the little woman waits at home.· This series sets out to explode the myth that some are impossible to keep.· At last, I thought, some one is willing to explode the myth that thin equals sexy!· It explodes the myth prevalent among pupils at school that history graduates mainly become history teachers.· It is therefore time to explode another myth.· Unusual position though it is, let me defend Ratner by exploding a couple of myths.
· Let's set the record straight and stop perpetuating this myth.· To say that wine-speak is an obfuscation is at best perpetuating one of many myths about wine.· Without statistics to prove the theories daft, the opportunity remains to rely on the powers of suggestion to perpetuate the myth.· If he includes other people's slivers, he may well perpetuate damaging myths about that person.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► nail a lie/myth
1an idea or story that many people believe, but which is not true SYN fallacymyth of- The report explodes the myth that pollution is only a problem for rich countries.
- At last, I thought, some one is willing to explode the myth that thin equals sexy!
- It explodes the myth prevalent among pupils at school that history graduates mainly become history teachers.
- The report explodes the myth that men are the bed-hopping rogues while the little woman waits at home.
- This series sets out to explode the myth that some are impossible to keep.
the myth of male superioritymyth that It was important to dispel the myth that AIDS was a gay disease.2an ancient story, especially one invented in order to explain natural or historical events: a book of Greek mythsmyth of the myth of Orpheus the giants of myth and fairytale → urban myth► see thesaurus at storyCOLLOCATIONSverbscreate a myth· Stalin created a lot of myths about himself.believe a myth· People still believe the myth that money will bring them happiness.explode/dispel/debunk a myth (=show that it is not true)· Our goal is to debunk the myth that science is boring.perpetuate a myth (=make it continue)· Let’s stop perpetuating this myth.a myth grows up (=starts)· A number of myths have grown up about their relationship.a myth persists (=it continues)· The myth still persists that we need to build more roads.myth has it that ... (=there is a myth that)· Myth had it that Mrs Thatcher only needed four hours sleep a night.adjectivesa common/popular myth (=that many people believe)· Contrary to popular myth, most road accidents are not the result of speeding.a modern myth· Is it a modern myth that we are living in a classless society?a powerful myth (=that has a lot of influence on people)· There is a powerful myth that crime has increased – in fact there was much more crime 100 years ago.an enduring myth (=that has continued for a long time)· The idea that Kennedy was shot by the CIA is one of the enduring myths of our time.phrasesbe a complete/total myth· It’s a complete myth that eating carrots helps you to see in the dark.be a bit of a myth (=be not really true)· The whole story is a bit of a myth.the myths surrounding something (=relating to something)· the myths surrounding rural life