Cyclops

[ sahy-klops ]

noun

, plural Cy·clo·pes [sahy-, kloh, -peez].

1. Classical Mythology. a member of a family of giants having a single round eye in the middle of the forehead.
2. (lowercase) a freshwater copepod of the genus Cyclops, having a median eye in the front of the head.

Cyclops

¹

/ ˈsaɪklɒps /

noun

1. See Polyphemus
   classical myth one of a race of giants having a single eye in the middle of the forehead, encountered by Odysseus in the Odyssey See also Polyphemus

cyclops

²

/ ˈsaɪklɒps /

noun

1. any copepod of the genus Cyclops, characterized by having one eye

Cyclops

1. plur. Cyclopes One-eyed giants in classical mythology . One Cyclops imprisoned Odysseus and his men during their voyage back to Greece after the Trojan War (see also Trojan War ). Odysseus managed to trick the Cyclops and put out his eye. Odysseus and his men were then able to escape.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cyclops¹

< Greek Kýklōps, literally, round-eye, equivalent to kýkl ( os ) a circle, round + ṓps eye

Word History and Origins

Origin of Cyclops¹

C15: from Latin Cyclōps, from Greek Kuklōps, literally: round eye, from kuklos circle + ōps eye

Example Sentences

In the episode, “The Cyber House Rules,” Leela dates her childhood crush—now a rich surgeon—and tries to change her Cyclops look.

From The Daily Beast

Kwasind is a sort of Samson, who threw a huge mass of rock such as the Cyclops cast at Mentor.

From Project Gutenberg

I never associate Vulcan and his Cyclops with the idea of a forge.

From Project Gutenberg

He ran and he ran and after a while the Cyclops reached down and plucked him off the floor.

From Project Gutenberg

But the Cyclops only turned over in its sleep and began to snore again.

From Project Gutenberg

The Cyclops advanced on its knees, searching, its mouth slavering now.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• behemoth
• titan