hydra

[ hahy-druh ]

noun

genitive: Hydrae [hahy, -dree].plural: hydras hydrae [hahy, -dree]

1. Often Hydra. Classical Mythology. a water or marsh serpent with nine heads, each of which, if cut off, grew back as two; Hercules killed this serpent by cauterizing the necks as he cut off the heads.
2. any freshwater polyp of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a cylindrical body with a ring of tentacles surrounding the mouth, and usually living attached to rocks, plants, etc., but also capable of detaching and floating in the water.
3. a persistent or many-sided problem that presents new obstacles as soon as one aspect is solved.
4. genitive Hydrae [hahy, -dree]. (initial capital letter) Astronomy. the Sea Serpent, a large southern constellation extending through 90° of the sky, being the longest of all constellations.

Hydra

¹

/ ˈhaɪdrə /

noun

1. Greek myth a monster with nine heads, each of which, when struck off, was replaced by two new ones

hydra

²

/ ˈhaɪdrə /

noun

1. any solitary freshwater hydroid coelenterate of the genus Hydra, in which the body is a slender polyp with tentacles around the mouth
2. a persistent trouble or evil

   the hydra of the Irish problem

Hydra

³

/ ˈhaɪdrə /

noun

1. a very long faint constellation lying mainly in the S hemisphere and extending from near Virgo to Cancer

hydra

/ hī′drə /

, Plural hydras hī′drē

1. See under hydroid

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydra¹

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin hydra, from Greek hýdrā “water serpent” (replacing Middle English ydre, from Middle French, from Latin); otter

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydra¹

C16: from Latin, from Greek hudra water serpent; compare otter

Example Sentences

“Like the hydra, you can cut off my head and hold it up for the world to see, but two more will quietly appear and be working in the shadows,” Meyer wrote to Moore.

From Salon

"We are fighting the hydra that is the Muslim Brotherhood, because it creates an atmosphere of jihadism," the politician told conservative TV channel CNews.

From BBC

Non-state organisations tend to operate like a hydra's head - one operational commander or figurehead leader gets removed and they are quickly replaced by another.

From BBC

"We are fighting the hydra that is the Muslim Brotherhood, because it creates an atmosphere of jihadism," he told right-wing news channel CNews.

From BBC

"We have to look at Wagner not only as a single man but as an ecosystem, as a hydra with many many heads and many diverse interests in Africa."

From BBC

Related Words

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