# Sleeping Beauty

> English word · Proper noun

## Definitions
1. A fairy tale originally titled La Belle au bois dormant by Charles Perrault.
2. The main character in this story, who is in unbroken slumber under a magical spell, awaiting the kiss of a prince.
3. A transposon used in genetic engineering.
4. One who is asleep at an inappropriate time.

## Etymology
In the genetics sense, so called because the transposon was brought back to activity from a long evolutionary sleep.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/sleeping-beauty