Hercules
Americannoun
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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.
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Astronomy. a northern constellation, between Lyra and Corona Borealis.
noun
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Also called: Alcides. classical myth a hero noted for his great strength, courage, and for the performance of twelve immense labours
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a man of outstanding strength or size
noun
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a large constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Lyra and Corona Borealis
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a conspicuous crater in the NW quadrant of the moon, about 70 kilometres in diameter
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of Hercules
From Latin Herculēs, Herclēs, Greek; see Heracles
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Example Sentences
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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
Some argued he was an ancient fertility figure, others a Roman Hercules, or even a later satire of Oliver Cromwell.
From BBC ● May 27, 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
Achelous took the form of a bull and attacked him fiercely, but Hercules was used to subduing bulls.
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
Famed Nova Herculis of 1934 became one of the twelve brightest stars, but it started from the 14th magnitude.
From Time Magazine Archive
A very interesting discovery has recently been made with reference to the star μ Herculis.
From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by Gore, J. Ellard
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
