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naiad
[ ney-ad, -uhd, nahy- ]
/ ˈneɪ æd, -əd, ˈnaɪ- /
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noun, plural nai·ads, nai·a·des [ney-uh-deez, nahy-]. /ˈneɪ əˌdiz, ˈnaɪ-/.
(sometimes initial capital letter)Classical Mythology. any of a class of nymphs presiding over rivers and springs.
the juvenile form of the dragonfly, damselfly, or mayfly.
a female swimmer, especially an expert one.
Botany. a plant of the genus Najas, having narrow leaves and solitary flowers.
Entomology. an aquatic nymph.
a freshwater mussel.
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Origin of naiad
<Latin Nāïad- (stem of Nāïas) <Greek Nāïás a water nymph
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use naiad in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for naiad
naiad
/ (ˈnaɪæd) /
noun plural -ads or -ades (-əˌdiːz)
Greek myth a nymph dwelling in a lake, river, spring, or fountain
the aquatic larva of the dragonfly, mayfly, and related insects
Also called: water nymph any monocotyledonous submerged aquatic plant of the genus Naias (or Najas), having narrow leaves and small flowers: family Naiadaceae (or Najadaceae)
any of certain freshwater mussels of the genus UnioSee mussel (def. 2)
Word Origin for naiad
C17: via Latin from Greek nāias water nymph; related to náein to flow
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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