Hydra

1 of 3

noun (1)

Hy·​dra ˈhī-drə 

1

: a many-headed serpent or monster in Greek mythology that was slain by Hercules and each head of which when cut off was replaced by two others

2

hydra : a multifarious evil not to be overcome by a single effort

3

: a southern constellation of great length that lies south of Cancer, Sextans, Corvus, and Virgo and is represented on old maps by a serpent

4

hydra : any of numerous small tubular freshwater hydrozoan polyps (Hydra and related genera) having at one end a mouth surrounded by tentacles

Hydriot

2 of 3

noun (2)

Hy·​dri·​ot ˈhī-drē-ət 

-ˌät

variants or Hydriote

ˈhī-drē-ˌōt 

-ət

plural Hydriots or Hydriotes

: a native or inhabitant of the Greek island of Hydra

Hydriot

3 of 3

adjective

variants or Hydriote

: of or relating to the Greek island of Hydra or its inhabitants

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English Ydra, Idre, borrowed from Latin Hydra "any of various mythical monsters, especially the Hydra of Lerna killed by Hercules, a constellation," borrowed from Greek hýdra "aquatic snake, the Hydra of Lerna, a constellation"; (sense 4) borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin — more at otter

Noun (2)

Hydra, Greek island in the Aegean sea + English -i- + -ote

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1905, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

hydra

noun

hy·​dra

ˈhī-drə

: any of numerous small tube-shaped freshwater animals related to the jellyfishes and having a mouth surrounded by tentacles at one end

Medical Definition

hydra

noun

hy·​dra ˈhī-drə 

: any of numerous small tubular freshwater hydrozoan polyps (Hydra and related genera) having at one end a mouth surrounded by tentacles

Geographical Definition

Hydra

geographical name

Hy·​dra ˈhī-drə 

variants or Modern Greek Ídhra

ˈēt͟h-rä 

island of Greece in the southern Aegean Sea off the east coast of the Peloponnese area 20 square miles (52 square kilometers), population 2794

Hydriot

ˈhī-drē-ət 

-drē-ˌät

noun

or Hydriote

ˈhī-drē-ˌōt 

-ət