medusa

C2 Topic:General Vocabulary

US /mɪˈduːsə/ UK /mɪˈdjuːsə/ See IPA manual

Freq #16954

Meanings

1

noun
the free-swimming, usually bell-shaped and sexually reproducing stage of a cnidarian, commonly recognized as a jellyfish

The medusa propelled itself by contracting its translucent bell.
2

noun
Medusa in Greek mythology: the mortal Gorgon whose gaze turned observers to stone and whose hair was represented as snakes

Perseus avoided Medusa's direct gaze by watching her reflection in his shield.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · the free-swimming, usually... jellyfishmedusoid stage

2 noun · medusa in greek mythology:... Gorgon

Word family

Forms medusae

Derived forms medusanmedusoidmedusiform

Related forms cnidarianpolypGorgonPerseus

Etymology

From Latin Medusa and Greek Medousa, the name of the Gorgon, from a verb meaning 'rule or protect.' Zoologists later applied the name to the bell-shaped, tentacled stage of a cnidarian, whose trailing tentacles suggested Medusa's snake-covered head.

Topics

General Vocabulary

External links

# medusa

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /mɪˈduːsə/
**IPA (UK):** /mɪˈdjuːsə/
**Frequency rank:** 16954

## Meanings
1. the free-swimming, usually bell-shaped and sexually reproducing stage of a cnidarian, commonly recognized as a jellyfish
2. Medusa in Greek mythology: the mortal Gorgon whose gaze turned observers to stone and whose hair was represented as snakes

## Examples
- The medusa propelled itself by contracting its translucent bell.
- Perseus avoided Medusa's direct gaze by watching her reflection in his shield.

## Synonyms
- jellyfish
- medusoid stage
- Gorgon

## Derived Forms
- medusan
- medusoid
- medusiform

## Related Forms
- cnidarian
- polyp
- Gorgon
- Perseus

## Etymology
From Latin Medusa and Greek Medousa, the name of the Gorgon, from a verb meaning 'rule or protect.' Zoologists later applied the name to the bell-shaped, tentacled stage of a cnidarian, whose trailing tentacles suggested Medusa's snake-covered head.

## Topics
- General Vocabulary

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