hydra
Hydra (noun) means a many-headed serpent from Greek mythology that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off. Example: “Hercules had to burn each stump to stop the hydra from regrowing its heads.”
How to use hydra
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the mythical many-headed monster, a microscopic pond animal, or (figuratively) a problem that keeps growing back no matter how you attack it.
Word forms
hydras plural, hydrae plural, hydræ plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Hercules had to burn each stump to stop the _____ from regrowing its heads.
Etymology
Named after the Hydra of Greek mythology, the multi-headed monster slain by Hercules; the tiny pond creature was named for its ability to regenerate in a similar way, and the figurative sense of an unstoppable, ever-multiplying problem comes from the same myth.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “hydra” mean?
The word “hydra” means a many-headed serpent from Greek mythology that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off. In plain terms, either the mythical many-headed monster, a microscopic pond animal, or (figuratively) a problem that keeps growing back no matter how you attack it.
How do you pronounce “hydra”?
“Hydra” is pronounced HYD-ruh (/ˈhaɪdɹə/ in IPA).
How do you use “hydra” in a sentence?
Here is “hydra” used in a sentence: “Hercules had to burn each stump to stop the hydra from regrowing its heads.”
What part of speech is “hydra”?
“Hydra” is a noun.
Where does the word “hydra” come from?
The word “hydra” comes from Greek.
Is “hydra” a common word?
“Hydra” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “hydra” have?
“Hydra” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a many-headed serpent from Greek mythology that grew two new heads whenever one was cut off.