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• medusa
  medusa

  noun

  a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra.
• Medusa
  Medusa

  noun

  the only mortal of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus, and her head was mounted upon the aegis of Zeus and Athena.

medusa

¹ American  

[muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo-] / məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdju- /

noun

Zoology.

medusas, plural medusae plural

1. a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra.

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Medusa ² American  

[muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo-] / məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdju- /

noun

Classical Mythology.

Medusas plural

1. the only mortal of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus, and her head was mounted upon the aegis of Zeus and Athena.

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medusa ¹ British  

/ mɪˈdjuːzə /

noun

1. another name for jellyfish jellyfish

2. Also called: medusoid.   medusan.  one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes Compare polyp

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Medusa ² British  

/ mɪˈdjuːzə /

noun

1. Greek myth a mortal woman who was transformed by Athena into one of the three Gorgons. Her appearance was so hideous that those who looked directly at her were turned to stone. Perseus eventually slew her See also Pegasus 1

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medusa Scientific  

/ mĭ-do̅o̅′sə /

medusas plural

1. A cnidarian in its free-swimming stage. Medusas are bell-shaped, with tentacles hanging down around a central mouth. Jellyfish are medusas, while corals and sea anemones lack a medusa stage and exist only as polyps.

2. Compare polyp

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Medusa Cultural  

1. The best known of the monster Gorgons of classical mythology; people who looked at her would turn to stone. A hero, Perseus, was able to kill Medusa, aiming his sword by looking at her reflection in a highly polished shield.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• Medusan
  adjective
• medusan
  adjective
• medusoid
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• Medusas
  plural
• medusae
  plural
• medusas
  plural

Etymology

Origin of medusa¹

1750–60; special use of Medusa, alluding to the Gorgon's snaky locks

Origin of Medusa²

< Latin < Greek Médousa, special use of médousa, feminine of médōn ruling