name

Proteus

PROH-tyoos

Proteus (name) means a Greek sea god famed for changing shape at will. Example: “Like Proteus, the character keeps reinventing himself to escape capture.”

name

A Greek sea god famed for changing shape at will.

"Like Proteus, the character keeps reinventing himself to escape capture."

noun

A genus of bacteria, some species of which cause infections in humans.

"The lab identified Proteus bacteria in the urine sample."

How to use Proteus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the Greek myth figure known for changing shape, or a type of bacteria named after him.

Word forms

protei plural

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

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

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

Like _____, the character keeps reinventing himself to escape capture.

Etymology

From Ancient Greek Prōteús, the shape-shifting sea god of myth.

Origin: Ancient Greek

Rhymes for Proteus

Zeus nucleus Perseus Orpheus Theseus Amadeus Morpheus Odysseus Thaddeus Prometheus

See all rhymes for Proteus →

Frequently asked questions

What does “Proteus” mean?

The word “Proteus” means a Greek sea god famed for changing shape at will. In plain terms, either the Greek myth figure known for changing shape, or a type of bacteria named after him.

How do you pronounce “Proteus”?

“Proteus” is pronounced PROH-tyoos (/ˈpɹoʊ.ti.əs/ in IPA).

How do you use “Proteus” in a sentence?

Here is “Proteus” used in a sentence: “Like Proteus, the character keeps reinventing himself to escape capture.”

What part of speech is “Proteus”?

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

Where does the word “Proteus” come from?

The word “Proteus” comes from Ancient Greek. From Ancient Greek Prōteús, the shape-shifting sea god of myth.

How many meanings does “Proteus” have?

“Proteus” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a Greek sea god famed for changing shape at will.