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Medusa

mih-DYOO-suh

Medusa (name) means In Greek mythology, a monstrous figure with living snakes for hair whose gaze turned onlookers to stone; the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters, slain by the hero Perseus. Example: “Perseus used his shield as a mirror to avoid Medusa's deadly gaze.”

name
1
In Greek mythology, a monstrous figure with living snakes for hair whose gaze turned onlookers to stone; the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters, slain by the hero Perseus.
"Perseus used his shield as a mirror to avoid Medusa's deadly gaze."
noun
1
The free-swimming, umbrella-shaped form of a jellyfish.
"The medusa stage is when the jellyfish drifts and swims rather than staying attached to a surface."

How to use Medusa

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the snake-haired monster of Greek myth, or the scientific term for the swimming form of a jellyfish.

Word forms

medusas plural, medusae plural, medusæ plural

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Test yourself on “Medusa” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

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Perseus used his shield as a mirror to avoid _____'s deadly gaze.

Etymology

From Latin Medūsa, from Greek Μέδουσα (Médousa), related to a verb meaning "to rule" or "to protect."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for Medusa

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Medusa” mean?

The word “Medusa” means in Greek mythology, a monstrous figure with living snakes for hair whose gaze turned onlookers to stone; the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters, slain by the hero Perseus. In plain terms, either the snake-haired monster of Greek myth, or the scientific term for the swimming form of a jellyfish.

How do you pronounce “Medusa”?

“Medusa” is pronounced mih-DYOO-suh (/məˈduːsə/ in IPA).

How do you use “Medusa” in a sentence?

Here is “Medusa” used in a sentence: “Perseus used his shield as a mirror to avoid Medusa's deadly gaze.”

What part of speech is “Medusa”?

Depending on how it is used, “Medusa” can be a name and a noun.

Where does the word “Medusa” come from?

The word “Medusa” comes from Latin. From Latin Medūsa, from Greek Μέδουσα (Médousa), related to a verb meaning "to rule" or "to protect.".

How many meanings does “Medusa” have?

“Medusa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in Greek mythology, a monstrous figure with living snakes for hair whose gaze turned onlookers to stone; the only mortal of the three Gorgon sisters, slain by the hero Perseus.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial