maiden
Happening for the first time, especially a trip, speech, game, or other public event.
Happening for the first time, especially used for a journey, performance, speech, or achievement.
A young woman who is not married, used mostly in old stories or very formal language.
A young woman, especially one who has never been married; used mainly in literary, historical, or fantasy contexts.
Describes a woman who has never had a husband, used in very old or formal English.
Describing a woman who has never been married; used in older or very traditional styles of English.
In horse racing, a horse that has never won a race.
In horse racing, a horse that has not yet won a race.
In cricket, an over where the batting team does not score any runs at all.
In cricket, an over in which the batting side scores no runs from the bat, and no wides or no-balls are bowled.
- Base: maiden
- Base: maiden
- Plural: maidens
fair maiden
1pretty young unmarried woman
A young unmarried woman who is called pretty or beautiful, used in old stories and poems.
- The ballad tells of a knight and a fair maiden.
- Painters often showed fair maidens in flowing dresses.
- He jokingly referred to his date as a 'fair maiden'.
maiden aunt
1unmarried aunt
An aunt who has never married, especially in old-fashioned or storybook descriptions.
- He grew up in the care of a strict maiden aunt.
- The old house was left to a lonely maiden aunt.
- In many novels, the maiden aunt is a quiet, watching figure.
maiden flight
1first flight of new aircraft
The first time a new airplane, rocket, or similar vehicle flies.
- The jet's maiden flight lasted just over two hours.
- Engineers were on board to monitor systems during the maiden flight.
- The rocket's maiden flight was delayed due to bad weather.
maiden name
1a woman's birth surname
The last name a woman had before she got married, if she later changed her name.
- Please write your maiden name as it appears on your birth certificate.
- She kept her maiden name after the wedding for professional reasons.
- The form asks for both your current surname and your maiden name.
maiden over
1cricket over with no runs
In cricket, an over where the batting team does not score any runs at all.
- The bowler opened with a tight maiden over.
- A maiden over at this stage puts huge pressure on the batting side.
- She settled her nerves by delivering a maiden over straight away.
maiden speech
1first formal speech in office
The first serious or official speech that a person gives in a new job, especially in a parliament.
- The new MP delivered her maiden speech to a packed chamber.
- He used his maiden speech to call for urgent climate action.
- Traditionally, a maiden speech is not interrupted by hostile questions.
maiden title
1first championship title
The first big competition or season title that someone or a team wins.
- The victory secured her maiden Grand Slam title.
- They are hoping to claim their maiden league title this year.
- He finally lifted his maiden world title after years of trying.
maiden win
1first victory in competition
The first time a player, team, or horse wins a game, race, or other competition.
- She took her maiden win on the World Cup circuit last season.
- The driver celebrated his maiden win in Formula One.
- The team is still looking for its maiden win of the campaign.
maiden voyage
1first journey of a ship etc.
The first trip that a new ship, boat, or sometimes another vehicle makes.
- The ship sank on its maiden voyage in 1912.
- The luxury liner sank on its maiden voyage.
- The airline celebrated the maiden voyage of its new plane.
- Thousands of people watched the ferry's maiden voyage across the bay.
- The spacecraft completed its maiden voyage without any major problems.