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medusa

Definition of medusa

noun (plural medusae /-ziː, -siː/ or medusas)

Zoology
  • a free-swimming sexual form of a coelenterate such as a jellyfish, typically having an umbrella-shaped body with stinging tentacles around the edge. In some species, medusae are a phase in the life cycle which alternates with a polypoid phase. Compare with polyp.
  • a jellyfish.

Origin:

mid 18th century: named by association with Medusa

medusa in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of medusa in the US English dictionary
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