Icarus

noun

Ic·​a·​rus ˈi-kə-rəs How to pronounce Icarus (audio)
: the son of Daedalus who to escape imprisonment flies by means of artificial wings but falls into the sea and drowns when the wax of his wings melts as he flies too near the sun
Icarian adjective

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek Ikaros

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Icarus was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Icarus

Cite this Entry

“Icarus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Icarus. Accessed 4 Oct. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!