hydro
noun
hydroelectric power.
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
Highest demand is expected to be at half-time and full-time, and Neso said its control room was ready to use technologies such as battery farms and pumped hydro storage schemes to keep the system balanced.
From BBC ● Jun. 6, 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
“Aiding Contact is its hydro storage position, currently 8% above average, which will help keep the cost of generation down,” Forsyth Barr says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 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
Quite lately, Mr Alfred Nobel, the well-known inventor of dynamite, has patented the use of nitro-cellulose, hydro- or oxy-cellulose, as an artificial substitute for indiarubber.
From Nitro-Explosives: A Practical Treatise by P. Gerald (Percy Gerald) Sanford
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 Willard Grosvenor Bleyer
Simple Minds brought the curtain down on an 11-day sporting festival during the closing ceremony at the Hydro on Sunday.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The King's Baton was then paraded around the Hydro by swimmer Hannah Miley and para-cycling great Neil Fachie.
From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026
The curtain will come down on Glasgow 2026 at the Hydro after a ceremony featuring Delta Goodrem and rock legends Simple Minds.
From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026
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
He found out that a boat called Hydro would be used Sunday morning.
From "Bomb" by Steve Sheinkin
Back are the J-Hydros, which are often driven by the kids of the unlimited hydros drivers and crews.
From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2022
It was a rough weekend for the hydros.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 31, 2022
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
A fleet of 180-mph hydros throw long roostertails over three days.
From Time Magazine Archive
Changed "hydros" to "hydrous" in the footnote on page 565: "the hydrous sulphate."
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola
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.
