Cyclops

[ sahy-klops ]

/ ˈsaɪ klɒps /

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noun, plural Cy·clo·pes

[sahy-kloh-peez]. /saɪˈkloʊ piz/.

Classical Mythology. a member of a family of giants having a single round eye in the middle of the forehead.

(lowercase) a freshwater copepod of the genus Cyclops, having a median eye in the front of the head.

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Origin of Cyclops

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

Words nearby Cyclops

cyclopentane, cyclophosphamide, cyclopia, cycloplegia, cyclopropane, Cyclops, cyclorama, cyclosilicate, cyclosis, cyclosporin, cyclosporine

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Cyclops in a sentence

The very sight of the mythical Cyclops, a creature of colossal size, causes both amazement and terror.
Our Most Effective Weapon Is Imagination - Issue 99: Universality|Guido Tonelli|April 29, 2021|Nautilus
In the episode, “The Cyber House Rules,” Leela dates her childhood crush—now a rich surgeon—and tries to change her Cyclops look.
The Funniest ‘Futurama’ Scenes: From Bender to Zoidberg (VIDEO)|Jean Trinh|June 19, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Kwasind is a sort of Samson, who threw a huge mass of rock such as the Cyclops cast at Mentor.
The Indian in his Wigwam|Henry R. Schoolcraft
I never associate Vulcan and his Cyclops with the idea of a forge.
Lavengro|George Borrow

He ran and he ran and after a while the Cyclops reached down and plucked him off the floor.
A World Called Crimson|Darius John Granger
But the Cyclops only turned over in its sleep and began to snore again.
A World Called Crimson|Darius John Granger
The Cyclops advanced on its knees, searching, its mouth slavering now.
A World Called Crimson|Darius John Granger

British Dictionary definitions for Cyclops (1 of 2)

cyclops

/ (ˈsaɪklɒps) /

noun plural cyclops or cyclopes (saɪˈkləʊpiːz)

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

British Dictionary definitions for Cyclops (2 of 2)

Cyclops

/ (ˈsaɪklɒps) /

noun plural Cyclopes (saɪˈkləʊpiːz) or Cyclopses

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

Word Origin for Cyclops

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

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

Cultural definitions for Cyclops

Cyclops

[ (seye-klops) ]

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.