{
    "term": "myth",
    "partOfSpeech": "noun",
    "ox5000": true,
    "cefr": "b2",
    "definitions": [
        {
            "senseNumber": 1,
            "definition": "a story from ancient times, especially one that was told to explain natural events or to describe the early history of a people; this type of story",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "ancient Greek myths"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a creation myth *(= that explains how the world began)*"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the heroes of myth and legend"
                },
                {
                    "text": "the creation myths of the people of the Pacific North-West"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a myth about a golden apple"
                },
                {
                    "text": "The story parallels the creation myth of the ancient Babylonians."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The battle has become part of national myth."
                }
            ],
            "synonyms": "legend",
            "topics": ["History", "Literature and writing"],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["ancient", "classical", "religious"],
                "preposition": ["myth about"]
            }
        },
        {
            "senseNumber": 2,
            "definition": "something that many people believe but that does not exist or is false",
            "cefr": "b2",
            "examples": [
                {
                    "text": "It is time to dispel the myth of a classless society *(= to show that it does not exist)*."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Contrary to **popular myth**, women are not worse drivers than men."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a myth that cats only swish their tails when they are angry."
                },
                {
                    "text": "an attempt to perpetuate the myth of male superiority"
                },
                {
                    "text": "a popular myth about twins"
                },
                {
                    "text": "They have peddled the myth that women are too shy to ask for a pay rise."
                },
                {
                    "text": "We are trying to lay to rest the myths surrounding Alzheimer's disease."
                },
                {
                    "text": "There is a great myth that all sports players are stupid."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The propaganda of both sides relies heavily on historical myth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The myth persists that children are most at risk from strangers."
                },
                {
                    "text": "The film tears down the cosy myths about fair play in war."
                },
                {
                    "text": "People's faith in the Emperor was based on the myth that he was infallible."
                },
                {
                    "text": "Propaganda has turned the former president into a heroic myth."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a total myth that this causes blindness."
                },
                {
                    "text": "It's a complete myth that he has royal blood."
                },
                {
                    "text": "How did the myth get so firmly established in the popular consciousness?"
                }
            ],
            "collocations": {
                "adjective": ["great", "common", "powerful"],
                "verb + myth": ["create", "cultivate", "establish"],
                "myth + verb": ["surround something", "grow up", "persist"],
                "preposition": ["myth about", "myth of"]
            }
        }
    ],
    "pronunciations": {
        "uk": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mɪθ/",
                "audio": "my/myth/myth__gb_1.mp3"
            }
        ],
        "us": [
            {
                "pronunciation": "/mɪθ/",
                "audio": "my/myth/myth__us_1.mp3"
            }
        ]
    },
    "wordOrigin": "mid 19th cent.: from modern Latin mythus, via late Latin from Greek muthos."
}