noun
moly
MOH-lee
Moly (noun) means informal short form of molybdenum, a hard silvery metal. Example: “The alloy is strengthened with a bit of moly.”
noun
1
Informal short form of molybdenum, a hard silvery metal.
"The alloy is strengthened with a bit of moly."
2
In Greek mythology, a magic herb given to Odysseus that protected him from Circe's spells.
"So spoke the Radiant One; then gave me the magic herb, pulling it from the ground and showing me in what form it grew; its root was black, its flower milk-white. Its name among the gods is moly."
— Homer, translated by Walter Shrewing (1980)
"Hermes gave Odysseus the herb moly to resist the witch's potion."
How to use moly
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the mythical protective herb from Homer's Odyssey, or informal shorthand for the metal molybdenum.
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Word forms
- Plural
- molies
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The alloy is strengthened with a bit of _____.
Etymology
From Latin mōly, borrowed from Ancient Greek môlu, the name of the mythical protective plant in Homer's Odyssey.
Rhymes for moly
See all rhymes for moly →Frequently asked questions
What does “moly” mean?
The word “moly” means informal short form of molybdenum, a hard silvery metal. In plain terms, either the mythical protective herb from Homer's Odyssey, or informal shorthand for the metal molybdenum.
How do you pronounce “moly”?
“Moly” is pronounced MOH-lee (/ˈməʊli/ in IPA).
How do you use “moly” in a sentence?
Here is “moly” used in a sentence: “The alloy is strengthened with a bit of moly.”
What part of speech is “moly”?
“Moly” is a noun.
Where does the word “moly” come from?
The word “moly” comes from Ancient Greek. From Latin mōly, borrowed from Ancient Greek môlu, the name of the mythical protective plant in Homer's Odyssey.
How many meanings does “moly” have?
“Moly” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: informal short form of molybdenum, a hard silvery metal.
