medusa

noun

me·du·sa mi-ˈdü-sə

-ˈdyü-,

-zə

capitalized [Latin, from Greek Medousa] : a mortal Gorgon who is slain when decapitated by Perseus

plural medusae mi-ˈdü-ˌsē

-ˈdyü-,

-ˌzē,

-ˌsī,

-ˌzī

also medusas [New Latin, from Latin] : the typically free-swimming, bell-shaped, usually sexually-reproducing, solitary or colonial form of a cnidarian (such as an obelia, box jellyfish, or sea nettle) in which nematocyst-studded tentacles arise and hang down from the margin of the nearly transparent, gelatinous bell see jellyfish

medusan

mi-ˈdü-sᵊn

-ˈdyü-

-zᵊn

adjective or noun

medusoid

mi-ˈdü-ˌsȯid

-ˈdyü-

-ˌzȯid

adjective or noun

Examples of medusa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Only four tentacles extend from the body to create the entire jellyfish, called a medusa, according to the study. —

Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 2 July 2024 Most species of medusa (or adult) jellyfish live for a few months in the wild, according to the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History. —

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024 During this, a medusa jellyfish will revert back to its polyp stage, according to American Museum of Natural History. —

Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 30 Mar. 2024 The cells specialized for medusae are reprogrammed into cells distinct for polyps – so the T. dohrnii recreates its body from a previous life stage. —

Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2023 See all Example Sentences for medusa