medusa

¹

[ muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo- ]

noun

, Zoology.

, plural me·du·sas, me·du·sae [m, uh, -, doo, -see, -zee, -, dyoo, -].

1. a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra.

Medusa

²

[ muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo- ]

noun

, Classical Mythology.

, plural Me·du·sas.

1. the only mortal of the three Gorgons. She was killed by Perseus, and her head was mounted upon the aegis of Zeus and Athena.

Medusa

¹

/ mɪˈdjuːzə /

noun

1. Greek myth a mortal woman who was transformed by Athena into one of the three Gorgons. Her appearance was so hideous that those who looked directly at her were turned to stone. Perseus eventually slew her See also Pegasus 1

medusa

²

/ mɪˈdjuːzə /

noun

1. another name for jellyfish jellyfish
2. Also calledmedusoidmedusan one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes Compare polyp

medusa

/ mĭ-do̅o̅′sə /

, Plural medusas mĭ-do̅o̅′sē

1. A cnidarian in its free-swimming stage. Medusas are bell-shaped, with tentacles hanging down around a central mouth. Jellyfish are medusas, while corals and sea anemones lack a medusa stage and exist only as polyps.
2. Compare polyp

Medusa

1. The best known of the monster Gorgons of classical mythology ; people who looked at her would turn to stone. A hero, Perseus , was able to kill Medusa, aiming his sword by looking at her reflection in a highly polished shield.

Derived Forms

• Meˈdusan, adjective
• meˈdusan, adjective

Other Words From

• me·du·soid [m, uh, -, doo, -soid, -, dyoo, -], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of medusa¹

1750–60; special use of Medusa, alluding to the Gorgon's snaky locks

Origin of medusa²

< Latin < Greek Médousa, special use of médousa, feminine of médōn ruling

Word History and Origins

Origin of medusa¹

C18: from the likeness of its tentacles to the snaky locks of Medusa

Example Sentences

“I was able to actually collect some of those medusae last year during the bloom, but rearing gelatinous organisms is pretty difficult,” Stajner said.

From Los Angeles Times

Before they adhere to the ocean’s surface, they live underwater as tiny creatures known as medusae, Wagner said.

From Los Angeles Times

A jellyfish begins its life cycle as an anemone-like creature on the sea floor before undergoing a metamorphosis and sprouting into a recognizable medusa — that Pacman ghost shape we're all familiar with.

From Salon

Gradually, the medusa buds off the polyp once again, rejuvenated.

From New York Times

Scientists prefer the term jelly or medusa over jellyfish because the creatures are not fish.

From Los Angeles Times