naiad
[ ney-ad, -uh d, nahy- ]
/ ˈneɪ æd, -əd, ˈnaɪ- /
noun, plural nai·ads, nai·a·des [ney-uh-deez, nahy-] /ˈneɪ əˌdiz, ˈnaɪ-/.
(sometimes initial capital letter) Classical Mythology.
any of a class of nymphs presiding over rivers and springs.
the juvenile form of the dragonfly, damselfly, or mayfly.
a female swimmer, especially an expert one.
Botany.
a plant of the genus Najas, having narrow leaves and solitary flowers.
Entomology.
an aquatic nymph.
a freshwater mussel.
Origin of naiad
< Latin
Nāïad- (stem of
Nāïas) < Greek
Nāïás a water nymph
Words nearby naiad
Example sentences from the Web for naiad
British Dictionary definitions for naiad
naiad
/ (ˈnaɪæd) /
noun plural -ads or -ades (-əˌdiːz)
Greek myth
a nymph dwelling in a lake, river, spring, or fountain
the aquatic larva of the dragonfly, mayfly, and related insects
Also called: water nymph
any monocotyledonous submerged aquatic plant of the genus Naias (or Najas), having narrow leaves and small flowers: family Naiadaceae (or Najadaceae)
any of certain freshwater mussels of the genus Unio
See mussel (def. 2)
Word Origin for naiad
C17: via Latin from Greek
nāias water nymph; related to
náein to flow