hydro
noun
hydroelectric power.
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hidro.
hydro
1 American
[hahy-droh]
/ ˈhaɪ droʊ /
noun
hydros
plural
-
Informal. hydroelectric power.
-
Informal. hydroplane.
-
British.
-
a bathhouse, hotel, or resort catering to people taking mineral-water health cures; spa.
-
an establishment furnishing hydrotherapy.
-
adjective
hydro-
2
American
hydro-
3
American
hydro
1
British
/ ˈhaɪdrəʊ /
adjective
noun
Hydro
2
British
/ ˈhaɪdrəʊ /
noun
hydro
3
British
/ ˈhaɪdrəʊ /
noun
hydro-
4
British
combining form
-
indicating or denoting water, liquid, or fluid
hydrolysis
hydrodynamics
-
indicating the presence of hydrogen in a chemical compound
hydrochloric acid
-
indicating a hydroid
hydrozoan
hydro–
Scientific
Usage
What does hydro- mean? Hydro- is a combining form used like a prefix that has two distinct senses. The first of these senses is “water,” and this form of hydro- is often used in a variety of scientific and technical terms. Hydro- comes from Greek hýdōr, meaning “water.”The second of these senses is “hydrogen,” and this form of hydro- is occasionally used in a variety of scientific terms, especially in chemistry. Hydrogen, the lightest of the elements, combines with oxygen to form water. The word hydrogen comes from French hydrogène. The suffix -gen, or its equivalent in French, means "that which produces." Hydrogen literally translates to "that which produces water."What are variants of hydro-?When combined with words or word elements that begin with a vowel, hydro- becomes hydr-, as in hydrant. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use article on hydr-.
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of hydro1
1880–85; by shortening of compounds with hydro- 1 ( cf. -o); hydro ( def. 4 ) hydro- 1 analyzed as an adj.
Origin of hydro-2
< Greek, combining form of hýdōr water
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He thought solar, wind and hydro power would each present their own environmental problems.
From Salon ● Jun. 26, 2026
“I will advance renewable energy, import less foreign fuel and stop decommissioning of hydro and nuclear power. However, many current initiatives have unintended consequences, and my plan focuses on incentives, not mandates,” she said.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 1, 2026
The Labour run-government in Cardiff Bay called its new sector deal a "strategic partnership" with the industry "accelerating renewable deployment across onshore and offshore, wind, solar, marine and hydro".
From BBC ● Mar. 18, 2026
Its 2025 performance was driven by record levels of biomass generation, pellet production and earnings from its hydro unit, they say.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 27, 2026
The editor was still not hack from covering a plowing match; his mother said that the hydro maintenance crew covered a large area of the country...
From "The Incredible Journey" by Sheila Burnford
By choosing certain spots, each species is hydro- and thermoregulating, Muñoz says.
From Science Magazine ● Sep. 22, 2022
The energy business would encompass equipment and services for gas, coal and wind turbines, hydro-, nuclear and electric power generation.
From Reuters ● Nov. 10, 2021
Solar projects accounted for 60 percent of the projects, while hydro- electric plants were 75 percent of new capacity.
From BusinessWeek ● Sep. 8, 2011
They are given names consisting of the prefix hydro-, the name of the second element present, and the termination -ic.
From An Elementary Study of Chemistry by McPherson, William
In this building were also the medical offices, with a clinical laboratory and hydro- and electro-therapeutic equipment, and accommodations for from twelve to fifteen guests.
From How To Write Special Feature Articles A Handbook for Reporters, Correspondents and Free-Lance Writers Who Desire to Contribute to Popular Magazines and Magazine Sections of Newspapers by Bleyer, Willard Grosvenor
Back home, thousands bounced out of venues - from the Hydro in Glasgow to village pubs - some time after 04:00, having witnessed history.
From BBC ● Jun. 28, 2026
A number of large music venues, like the OVO Hydro in Glasgow, will be showing the game on large screens.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
There will also be a run of Two Doors Down live shows at Glasgow's Hydro in September.
From BBC ● May 13, 2026
He said Hydro is losing orders to competitors outside the U.S. that can pay the tariff and offer lower prices because their aluminum costs less.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 2, 2026
He bought a ticket and traveled down the lake on Hydro, leaning over the rail, with one eye on the minute hand of his watch.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
Earlier, I was told the hydros hover 4 or 5 inches over the water.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 5, 2023
That was the beginning of 46 years of O’Day broadcasting the hydros either on TV or radio, ending in 2013.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 6, 2020
Raney, who group up in Seattle watching the hydros, has been involved with the unlimited series since 1989 when he wandered into Bill Wurster's U-8 shop and was given the task of sweeping the floors.
From Seattle Times ● Feb. 18, 2011
As in the case of big TVA it finally boiled down to how the PWA "hydros" could market their power.
From Time Magazine Archive
The Navy had two Wright-Burgess hydros and a few nondescripts.
From Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1913 by Various
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.
