Cyclops

[sahy-klops]

noun

plural

Cyclopes 

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. 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

Related Words

• behemoth 
• titan