Me·dus·a (m -d  s ,-z, -dy-)n. pl. Me·du·sas or Me·du·sae (-s  , -z) Greek Mythology The Gorgon who was killed by Perseus. [Middle English Meduse, from Latin Med  sa, from Greek Medousa, from feminine present participle of medein, to protect, rule over; see med- in Indo-European roots.] |
| me·du·sa (m-ds, -z, -dy-) n. pl. me·du·sas or me·du·sae (-s , -z) The tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish. [Latin Med sa, Medusa (from the Medusa's snaky locks); see Medusa.] |
medusa [mɪˈdjuːzə]
n pl -sas, -sae [-ziː]
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) another name for jellyfish [1] [2]
2. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Zoology) one of the two forms in which a coelenterate exists. It has a jelly-like umbrella-shaped body, is free swimming, and produces gametes Also called medusoid medusan Compare polyp
[from the likeness of its tentacles to the snaky locks of Medusa]
medusan adj
Medusa [mɪˈdjuːzə]
n
(Myth & Legend / Classical Myth & Legend) 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 Pegasus1
Medusan adj
| medusa (m-ds) Plural medusas or medusae (m -ds) 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. Compare polyp. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  Medusa - (Greek mythology) a woman transformed into a Gorgon by Athena; she was slain by PerseusGreek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greeks Gorgon - (Greek mythology) any of three winged sister monsters and the mortal Medusa who had live snakes for hair; a glance at Medusa turned the beholder to stone |
| 2. |  medusa - one of two forms that coelenterates take: it is the free-swimming sexual phase in the life cycle of a coelenterate; in this phase it has a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and tentaclesCnidaria, Coelenterata, phylum Cnidaria, phylum Coelenterata - hydras; polyps; jellyfishes; sea anemones; corals cnidarian, coelenterate - radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms |
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