Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
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name
A mythological serpent with many heads, slain by Hercules as one of his twelve labours.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Greek
Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A spring constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a serpent. It lies just south of the zodiac and contains the star Alphard.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
One of Pluto's moons.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
One of the Saronic Islands in the Aegean Sea.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
name
A commune in Algiers Province, Algeria.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: geography, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A dragon-like creature with many heads and the ability to regrow them when maimed.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: fantasy
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a naked cylindrical body and an oral opening surrounded by tentacles.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: biology, natural-sciences
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A complex, multifarious problem or situation that cannot be easily and rapidly solved.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
small tubular solitary freshwater hydrozoan polyp
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: hydrozoan, hydroid
noun
trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: trouble, problem
noun
a long faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near the equator stretching between Virgo and Cancer
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: Snake
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: constellation
noun
(Greek mythology) monster with nine heads; when struck off each head was replaced by two new ones
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mythical monster, mythical creature
History
From Latin Hydra, the mythical serpent, originally from Ancient Greek ὕδρα (húdra), from Proto-Indo-European *údreh2 (“aquatic”). Doublet of otter.
After the Hydra, from Greek mythology, which grew two new heads every time one of its heads was cut off. The biology sense alludes to the budding method of asexual reproduction that the hydra practices, similar to growing new heads. The figurative sense refers to how the creature could not be killed by a swift, decisive solution (in contrast to a Gordian knot).
Across languages
126 source translations are retained for this English entry.
