Hercules

[ hur-kyuh-leez ]

/ ˈhɜr kyəˌliz /

noun, genitive Her·cu·lis [hur-kyuh-lis] /ˈhɜr kyə lɪs/ for 2.

Also Heracles. Also called Alcides. Classical Mythology. 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.Compare labors of Hercules.

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

Origin of Hercules

< Latin Herculēs, Herclēs < Greek; see Heracles

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for hercules

The dealership called the Hercules team “right then and there,” Pedro Sr. said.
Mexico’s Murderous SWAT Teams|Jason McGahan|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In her remarks, the Hercules Group was synonymous with peace and safety.
Mexico’s Murderous SWAT Teams|Jason McGahan|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The public debut of the Hercules Group is a day that not many in Matamoros are likely to forget.
Mexico’s Murderous SWAT Teams|Jason McGahan|November 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Outside, on the roof, the clock is flanked by more Beaux Arts touches: statues of Hercules, Mercury, and Minerva.
Grand Central Terminal: 100 Years, 100 Facts|Sarah Begley|February 1, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Not a bit of it, for Hercules is the only one that knows how to git over such places.
A Waif of the Mountains|Edward S. Ellis
The first labor that Eurystheus assigned to Hercules was to bring him the skin of the Nemean lion.
Myths and Legends of All Nations|Various
The Archer was the image of Hercules, for whom the Egyptians had great veneration.
Astronomical Myths|John F. Blake
He was no longer the weak, timid young man, who could neither speak nor act, but a Hercules whom nothing could withstand.
The Bashful Lover (Novels of Paul de Kock Volume XIX)|Charles Paul de Kock
Hercules laughed nervously, and Migwan noticed that his jaw was trembling.
The Camp Fire Girls Solve a Mystery|Hildegard G. Frey

British Dictionary definitions for hercules (1 of 2)

Hercules

Heracles or Herakles

/ (ˈhɜːkjʊˌliːz) /

noun

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

a man of outstanding strength or size

Derived Forms

Herculean, Heraclean or Heraklean, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for hercules (2 of 2)

Hercules

/ (ˈhɜːkjʊˌliːz) /

noun Latin genitive Herculeis (ˌhɜːkjʊˈliːɪs)

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

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

Science definitions for hercules

Hercules

[ hûr′kyə-lēz′ ]

A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Lyra and Corona Borealis.

Culture definitions for hercules

Hercules

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.