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Hercules

American  
[hur-kyuh-leez] / ˈhɜr kjəˌliz /

noun

  • Herculis
    genitive
  1. Also called Alcides. Classical Mythology. Also Heracles a celebrated hero, the son of Zeus and Alcmene, possessing exceptional strength: among his many adventures were the twelve labors for his cousin Eurystheus, performed in order to gain immortality.

  2. Astronomy. a northern constellation, between Lyra and Corona Borealis.


Hercules 1 British  
/ ˈhɜːkjʊˌliːz /

noun

  1. Also called: Alcides. classical myth a hero noted for his great strength, courage, and for the performance of twelve immense labours

  2. a man of outstanding strength or size

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Hercules 2 British  
/ ˈhɜːkjʊˌliːz /

noun

  1. a large constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Lyra and Corona Borealis

  2. a conspicuous crater in the NW quadrant of the moon, about 70 kilometres in diameter

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Hercules Scientific  
/ hûr′kyə-lēz′ /
  1. A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Lyra and Corona Borealis.


Hercules Cultural  
  1. One of the greatest heroes of classical mythology, he is supposed to have been the strongest man on earth. He was renowned for completing twelve seemingly impossible tasks — the Labors of Hercules. One of these labors was the cleaning of the Augean stables; another was the killing of the nine-headed Hydra. Hercules was a son of Zeus.


Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of Hercules

From Latin Herculēs, Herclēs, Greek; see Heracles


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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Indonesian Air Force said it was bringing 13 tons of emergency aid airlifted in two Hercules transport planes and a Boeing.

From Barron's ● Aug. 17, 2026

The expedition used the remotely operated vehicle Hercules, which recorded extensive video footage that was later archived for public access and annotated by researchers at UH Mānoa.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 8, 2026

The U.S. was present in those areas during World War II, and currently flies Hercules C-130 military transport planes out of Kangerlussuaq for several months of the year.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 22, 2026

The Hercules bench set, composed of five seats made from the same slab of eucalyptus, $12,000.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2026

The man who brought them to Deianira told her that Hercules was madly in love with this Princess.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

Nova V1674 Herculis was one of the fastest ever recorded, rising and fading within days.

From Science Daily ● Dec. 31, 2025

Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt will run the 100 meters at the Herculis EBS meeting in Monaco on July 21, two weeks before his final world championships appearance in London, organizers said on Wednesday.

From Reuters ● Jun. 22, 2017

Bernard Lagat, a former Washington State standout, improved his American record in the 5,000 meters when he finished second in the Diamond League Herculis meet in Monaco.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 23, 2011

Such a one was Nova Herculis, the famed "new star" of 1934.

From Time Magazine Archive

Thus doing, though you be libertino patre natus, you shall suddenly grow Herculis proles: Si quid mea carmina possunt.

From English literary criticism by Various

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