medusa
[ muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo- ]
/ məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdyu- /
noun, plural me·du·sas, me·du·sae [muh-doo-see, -zee, -dyoo-] /məˈdu si, -zi, -ˈdyu-/. Zoology.
a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra.
Origin of medusa
1750–60; special use of
Medusa, alluding to the Gorgon's snaky locks
OTHER WORDS FROM medusa
me·du·soid [muh-doo-soid, -dyoo-] /məˈdu sɔɪd, -ˈdyu-/, adjectiveWords nearby medusa
Definition for medusa (2 of 2)
Medusa
[ muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo- ]
/ məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdyu- /
noun, plural Me·du·sas. Classical Mythology.
the only mortal of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus, and her head was mounted upon the aegis of Zeus and Athena.
Origin of Medusa
< Latin < Greek
Médousa, special use of
médousa, feminine of
médōn ruling
Example sentences from the Web for medusa
British Dictionary definitions for medusa (1 of 2)
medusa
/ (mɪˈdjuːzə) /
noun plural -sas or -sae (-ziː)
another name for jellyfish (def. 1), jellyfish (def. 2)
Also called: medusoid, medusan
one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes
Compare polyp
Derived forms of medusa
medusan, adjectiveWord Origin for medusa
C18: from the likeness of its tentacles to the snaky locks of
Medusa
British Dictionary definitions for medusa (2 of 2)
Medusa
/ (mɪˈdjuːzə) /
noun
Greek myth
a mortal woman who was transformed by Athena into one of the three Gorgons. Her appearance was so hideous that those who looked directly at her were turned to stone. Perseus eventually slew her
See also Pegasus 1
Derived forms of Medusa
Medusan, adjectiveScientific definitions for medusa
medusa
[ mĭ-dōō′sə ]
Plural medusas medusae (mĭ-dōō′sē)
A cnidarian in its free-swimming stage. Medusas are bell-shaped, with tentacles hanging down around a central mouth. Jellyfish are medusas, while corals and sea anemones lack a medusa stage and exist only as polyps. Compare polyp.
Cultural definitions for medusa
Medusa
[ (mi-dooh-suh, mi-dooh-zuh) ]
The best known of the monster Gorgons of classical mythology; people who looked at her would turn to stone. A hero, Perseus, was able to kill Medusa, aiming his sword by looking at her reflection in a highly polished shield.