naiad

nai·ad

N0004300 (nā′əd, -ăd′, nī′-)n. pl. nai·a·des (-ə-dēz′) or nai·ads 1. Greek Mythology One of the nymphs who lived in and presided over brooks, springs, and fountains.2. The aquatic nymph of certain insects, such as a mayfly, damselfly, or dragonfly.3. Any of various aquatic plants of the genus Najas.

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[Middle English, from Latin nāias, nāiad-, from Greek, probably from nān, to flow; see (s)nāu- in Indo-European roots.]

naiad

(ˈnaɪæd) n, pl -ads or -ades (-əˌdiːz) 1. (Classical Myth & Legend) Greek myth a nymph dwelling in a lake, river, spring, or fountain2. (Zoology) the aquatic larva of the dragonfly, mayfly, and related insects3. (Plants) 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)4. (Animals) any of certain freshwater mussels of the genus Unio. See mussel²[C17: via Latin from Greek nāias water nymph; related to náein to flow]

nai•ad

(ˈneɪ æd, -əd, ˈnaɪ-)

n., pl. -ads, -a•des (-əˌdiz) 1. (in Greek myth) any of a group of nymphs presiding over rivers and springs. 2. the aquatic nymph of certain insects, as the dragonfly or mayfly. 3. any of several aquatic plants of the genus Najas and family Najadaceae, having narrow opposite leaves and solitary flowers. [1610–20; < Latin Nāïad- (s. of Nāïas) < Greek Nāïás a water nymph]

naiad

a nymph or spirit of rivers and streams.See also: Mythology

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	naiad - submerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers; of fresh or brackish waterwater nymphgenus Naias, genus Najas, Naias, Najas - sole genus of the family Naiadaceaeaquatic plant, hydrophyte, hydrophytic plant, water plant - a plant that grows partly or wholly in water whether rooted in the mud, as a lotus, or floating without anchorage, as the water hyacinth
	2.	naiad - (Greek mythology) a nymph of lakes and springs and rivers and fountainsGreek mythology - the mythology of the ancient Greekswater nymph - (Greek mythology) any nymph of the water

naiad

noun water nymph, nymph, sprite, undine, Oceanid (Greek myth) The ceiling was covered in paintings of sylphs and naiads, fauns and faeries.

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