monsters

1. 1
   noun

   Plural of monster.

   Ancient myths are full of monsters that guard hidden treasure.

   The film's monsters were created with practical effects rather than computers.

   Note

   A regular plural, formed with -s, that carries every sense of the singular: mythical beasts, cruel people, badly behaved children, anything unusually large. The spelling is shared with the verb meaning "demonizes", and the surrounding words decide between them. An article, a number or an adjective in front marks the noun (two monsters, the little monsters), while a singular subject marks the verb. Applied to people with deformities, the old sense now gives offense.

2. 2
   verb

   Third-person singular simple present indicative of monster.

   The tabloid monsters every defendant it covers, painting ordinary people as villains long before any trial.

   At most live-action events, Tom monsters instead of playing his own character, taking whatever orc or villager role the organizers hand him.

   Note

   Behind this form stands a verb with several regional lives. In informal British speech, to monster someone is to reprimand or condemn them. In Australia it means to harass. In UK gaming it means playing the non-player characters an organizer assigns, orcs and villagers included. The general sense, to demonize, takes a direct object: the tabloid monsters every defendant.

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