1. In Greek mythology, a monster with the body of a man and head of a bull which lived in the Cretan labyrinth and was fed human sacrifices (young Athenian men and women) until it was killed by Theseus.
2. Also applied to any person or thing that devours or destroys.
3. Etymology: from Greek minotauros, from Minos, king of Crete plus tauros, "bull". A flesh-eating monster half man, half bull; son of Pasiphæ, wife of Minos, and a bull.