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medusa

me·du·sa
M m

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo-]
    • /məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdyu-/
    • /mɪˈdjuːzə/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo-]
    • /məˈdu sə, -zə, -ˈdyu-/

Definitions of medusa word

  • noun plural medusa a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra. 1
  • noun plural medusa the only mortal of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus, and her head was mounted upon the aegis of Zeus and Athena. 1
  • noun medusa A free-swimming sexual form of a coelenterate such as a jellyfish, typically having an umbrella-shaped body with stinging tentacles around the edge. In some species, medusae are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a polypoid phase. 1
  • noun medusa a mortal woman who was transformed by Athena into one of the three Gorgons. Her appearance was so hideous that those who looked directly at her were turned to stone. Perseus eventually slew her 0
  • noun medusa one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes 0
  • noun medusa one of the three Gorgons, slain by Perseus 0

Information block about the term

Origin of medusa

First appearance:

before 1750
One of the 47% newest English words
1750-60; special use of Medusa, alluding to the Gorgon's snaky locks

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Medusa

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

medusa popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 89% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

medusa usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for medusa

noun medusa

  • shrew — any of several small, mouselike insectivores of the genus Sorex and related genera, having a long, sharp snout.
  • biddy — If someone describes an old woman as an old biddy, they are saying in an unkind way that they think she is silly or unpleasant.
  • beldam — an old woman, esp an ugly or malicious one; hag
  • virago — a loud-voiced, ill-tempered, scolding woman; shrew.
  • jezebel — Also, Douay Bible, Jezabel. the wife of Ahab, king of Israel. I Kings 16:31.

Top questions with medusa

  • who killed medusa?
  • who is medusa?
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  • what is a medusa piercing?
  • why did athena curse medusa?
  • why was medusa cursed?
  • what is medusa?
  • how do you spell medusa?
  • who was medusa?
  • who slayed medusa?
  • how old is medusa?
  • how to draw medusa?
  • how did medusa become medusa?
  • what does medusa mean?
  • how did medusa die?

See also

Matching words

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