noun
grail
grayl
noun
1
In legend, the cup used by Christ at the Last Supper, sought after by knights in medieval stories.
"King Arthur's knights searched far and wide for the Holy Grail."
2
Something greatly desired and hard to obtain; an ultimate goal.
"A cure for the disease has long been the grail of medical researchers."
How to Use Grail
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the legendary cup from Arthurian legend, or a figure of speech for any highly sought-after goal.
Common pairings
holy grail
search for the grail
Word Forms
grails plural, grails plural, grails plural
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King Arthur's knights searched far and wide for the Holy _____.
Etymology
From Old French graal ("cup"), from Medieval Latin gradalis, possibly a corruption of Latin crater ("bowl").