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• Calypso
  Calypso

  noun

  Also Kalypso a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years.
• calypso
  calypso

  noun

  a popular type of satirical, usually topical, West Indian ballad, esp from Trinidad, usually extemporized to a percussive syncopated accompaniment

Calypso

American  

[kuh-lip-soh] / kəˈlɪp soʊ /

noun

plural

Calypsos

1. Classical Mythology. Also Kalypso a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years.

2. Also called fairy-slipper.  (lowercase) a terrestrial orchid, Calypso bulbosa, of the Northern Hemisphere, having a single variegated purple, yellow, and white flower.

3. (lowercase) a musical style of West Indian origin, influenced by jazz, usually having topical, often improvised, lyrics.

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verb (used without object)

1. (lowercase) to sing or dance to calypso.

calypso ¹ British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a popular type of satirical, usually topical, West Indian ballad, esp from Trinidad, usually extemporized to a percussive syncopated accompaniment

2. a dance done to the rhythm of this song

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Calypso ² British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. Greek myth (in Homer's Odyssey ) a sea nymph who detained Odysseus on the island of Ogygia for seven years

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calypso ³ British  

/ kəˈlɪpsəʊ /

noun

1. a rare N temperate orchid, Calypso (or Cytherea ) bulbosa, whose flower is pink or white with purple and yellow markings

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Other Word Forms

• calypsonian
  noun

Etymology

Origin of Calypso

The name of the musical style is of obscure origin and perhaps only copies the spelling of Calypso the sea nymph

Example Sentences

With Calypso now safely back in the stables, Shams is undeterred by what has happened and has big ambitions.

From BBC • Aug. 11, 2024

The sources close to the deal said that is in line with what Thoma Bravo paid combined for regulatory software firm AxiomSL and financial software maker Calypso, which it merged into Adenza.

From Reuters • Jun. 22, 2023

Another potential prospect is the Calypso field, off the coast of the island of Tobago, which could be the nation’s first deepwater gas field.

From New York Times • May 15, 2023

The success of "Calypso" marked the first major surge in Belafonte's career after years of struggling in the New York City theater scene alongside Poitier.

From Salon • Apr. 26, 2023

However amazing the stars were, Calypso was twice as brilliant.

From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" by Rick Riordan