hydra
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hydra¹
- /ˈhaɪdɹə/
Where it comes from
After the Hydra, from Greek mythology, which grew two new heads every time one of its heads was cut off. The biology sense alludes to the budding method of asexual reproduction that the hydra practices, similar to growing new heads. The figurative sense refers to how the creature could not be killed by a swift, decisive solution (in contrast to a Gordian knot).
noun hydras · hydrae · hydræ
- A dragon-like creature with many heads and the ability to regrow them when maimed.
- Any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a naked cylindrical body and an oral opening surrounded by tentacles.
- A complex, multifarious problem or situation that cannot be easily and rapidly solved. Because the statute is so vaguely worded, award decisions are habitually based on case law, the growing mountain of which is a hydra of rulings that point in so many directions that almost any decision can be defended or overturned on appeal, depending on how smart your lawyer is and which precedent
Hydra²
- /ˈhaɪ̯dɹə/ UK, US
- [ˈhaɪ̯dɹə] UK, US
- [ˈhaɪ̯d͡ʒɹə] UK, US
Where it comes from
From Latin Hydra, the mythical serpent, originally from Ancient Greek ὕδρα (húdra), from Proto-Indo-European *údreh₂ (“aquatic”). Doublet of otter.
proper noun
- A mythological serpent with many heads, slain by Hercules as one of his twelve labours.
- A spring constellation of the northern sky, said to resemble a serpent. It lies just south of the zodiac and contains the star Alphard. At night I lie dry-eyed on my little bed and turn my head to and fro to catch sight of one little star by one little star along the tail of Hydra, and think you are alive, you survive. Is this not what you wanted?
-
One of Pluto's moons.
Similar: Lernaean Hydra, Xiangliu, Xiangyao, Pluto II, S, 2005 P 1, Pluto II Hydra
- One of the Saronic Islands in the Aegean Sea.
- A commune in Algiers Province, Algeria.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: snake, lernean, multiheaded, glide, headed, none, matic, hydraenid, hyalellid, hydrachnid, polypus, hyalid, hydractiniid, hyenid, hydrophiid, hydrobiid
Translations
Every language
noun any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera
| Español | hydra |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 히드라 hideura |
| 日本語 | ヒドラ hidora |
| 中文 | 水螅 shuǐxī |
| Português | hidra |
| Français | hydre |
| Deutsch | Hydra |
| Română | hidră |
| Русский | ги́дра gídra |
| Tiếng Việt | thuỷ tức |
noun complex, multifarious problem
| Português | bicho de sete cabeças |
|---|
name mythical serpent
| Español | Hidra de Lerna |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ヒュドラー Hyudorā |
| 中文 | 九頭蛇 /九头蛇 Jiǔtóushé, 海德拉 Hǎidélā, 許德拉 /许德拉 Xǔdélā |
| Português | Hidra de Lerna, Hidra |
| Français | Hydre de Lerne |
| Deutsch | Hydra |
| Italiano | Idra di Lerna |
| Ελληνικά | Λερναία Ύδρα Lernaía Ýdra |
| Русский | Лерне́йская ги́дра Lernéjskaja gídra |
Talk about this word "hydra." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/hydra. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. hydra. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/hydra "hydra." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/hydra.Cite this
@misc{hydra_2026,
title = {hydra},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/hydra},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
