hydro

[ hahy-droh ]

/ ˈhaɪ droʊ /

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noun, plural hy·dros for 2, 3.

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

Informal. of, relating to, or furnishing water, water power, or hydroelectricity: funds for new hydro projects.

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Origin of hydro

1880–85; by shortening of compounds with hydro-¹ (cf. -o); (def. 4) hydro-¹ analyzed as an adj.

Words nearby hydro

hydric, hydride, hydrilla, hydriodic, hydriodic acid, hydro, hydroa, hydroacoustics, hydroaerobics, hydroairplane, hydrobiology

Other definitions for hydro (2 of 3)

hydro-¹

a combining form meaning “water,” used in the formation of compound words: hydroplane; hydrogen.

Also especially before a vowel, hydr-¹.

Origin of hydro-

<Greek, combining form of hýdōr water

Other definitions for hydro (3 of 3)

hydro-²

a combining form representing hydrogen in compound words, denoting especially a combination of hydrogen with some negative element or radical: hydrobromic.

Also especially before a vowel, hydr-².

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use hydro in a sentence

Long-range, high-voltage transmission lines also enable more development of solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal plants in the regions blessed with the weather, geology, or waterways to supply them.
The $1 trillion infrastructure bill is a baby step toward the US grid we need|James Temple|August 5, 2021|MIT Technology Review
It’s starting from a low base of installed capacity, however, far behind coal, gas, hydro, nuclear—even wind, which has been cheap for longer.
Cheaper solar PV is key to addressing climate change|Gernot Wagner|June 30, 2021|MIT Technology Review
A Bitcoin analyst and self-professed “hippie miner,” Jason Deane uses computers that run exclusively on hydro power—though this eco-friendly setup is likely the exception, not the rule.
Renewable energy can’t cure Bitcoin’s environmental woes|Monroe Hammond|June 21, 2021|Popular-Science
Renewable energy, particularly wind and solar, will account for less than 10 percent, with the remainder, about 18 percent of the power mix, coming primarily from hydro-electric power.
How much will Africa capitalize on cheap renewable energy as its power grid grows?|Carolyn Gramling|January 25, 2021|Science News

The field is formed by movements of liquified iron and nickel within the planet’s core, a phenomenon called magneto-hydro-dynamics that geophysicists are still working to fully understand.
How Sea Turtles Find Their Way - Issue 94: Evolving|Jason G. Goldman|December 16, 2020|Nautilus
Canada has abundant hydro potential — and in fact Manitoba and Quebec have abundant hydro for sale right now.
Why Blow our Money on Wind Power?|David Frum|January 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Here, however, it's worth noting that heavy use of emissions-free hydro power correlates strongly with lower power rates.
'All of the Above' Is a Terrible Strategy|Justin Green|October 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Alaska Electric Light and Power got a 24 percent residential rate hike to deal with inflation and to build a new hydro project.
Electric Bills About To Spike|Laura Colarusso|October 5, 2011|DAILY BEAST
A large number of these mills are actuated hydraulically or hydro-electrically.
Mexico|Charles Reginald Enock
The hydro-electric industry has been largely nationalized by those who are foremost in it.
Proceedings of the Second National Conservation Congress|Various
Retinol, ret′i-nol, n. a hydro-carbon oil used in printers' ink.
Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R)|Various
Next to my flight in the hydro-aeroplane this was the greatest experience of my life.
The Spell of Switzerland|Nathan Haskell Dole
On this supposition the positive impulse is to be regarded as hydro-mechanical.
Life Movements in Plants|Sir Jagadis Chunder Bose

British Dictionary definitions for hydro (1 of 4)

hydro¹

/ (ˈhaɪdrəʊ) /

noun plural -dros

British (esp formerly) a hotel or resort, often near a spa, offering facilities for hydropathic treatment

British Dictionary definitions for hydro (2 of 4)

hydro²

/ (ˈhaɪdrəʊ) /

adjective

short for hydroelectric

noun

a Canadian name for electricity when it is supplied to a residence, business, institution, etc

British Dictionary definitions for hydro (3 of 4)

Hydro

/ (ˈhaɪdrəʊ) /

noun

(esp in Canada) a hydroelectric power company or board

British Dictionary definitions for hydro (4 of 4)

hydro-

sometimes before a vowel hydr-

combining form

indicating or denoting water, liquid, or fluidhydrolysis; hydrodynamics

indicating the presence of hydrogen in a chemical compoundhydrochloric acid

indicating a hydroidhydrozoan

Word Origin for hydro-

from Greek hudōr water

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

Scientific definitions for hydro

hydro-

A prefix that means: water (as in hydroelectric) or hydrogen, (as in hydrochloride).