apus

1 of 4

noun (1)

"
plural apuses
-əsə̇z
or apodes
ˈapəˌdēz
: a crustacean of the genus Triops certain tropical forms of which are destructive pests of young rice

Apus

2 of 4

noun (2)

ˈā-pəs How to pronounce Apus (audio)
ˈä-
: a genus of birds containing the typical Old World swifts

Apus

3 of 4
ˈā-pəs How to pronounce Apus (audio)
ˈä-

taxonomic synonym of triops

Apus

4 of 4

noun

astronomy
: a faint constellation visible near the south celestial pole that is represented by the figure of a bird of paradise
Unfortunately, Apus is a latter-day construct, conjured by Dutch navigators around the turn of the 17th century and not imagined (or even seen) by ancient Greek herders.Jesse Cohen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sept. 2007

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin Apus entry 2

Noun (2)

New Latin, from Latin apod-, apus swallow supposed to be footless, from Greek apod-, apous sand-martin, swift, from apod-, apous footless, from a- a- entry 2 + pod-, pous foot

New Latin, from Greek apod-, apous footless

First Known Use

Noun (2)

1774, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of apus was in 1702

The Ultimate Dictionary Awaits

Expand your vocabulary and dive deeper into language with Merriam-Webster Unabridged.

  1. Expanded definitions
  2. Detailed etymologies
  3. Advanced search tools
  4. All ad-free

Discover what makes Merriam-Webster Unabridged the essential choice for true word lovers.

Start Your Free Trial Now

Dictionary Entries Near apus

Cite this Entry

“Apus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/apus. Accessed 14 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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