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naiad

Pronunciation: /ˈnʌɪad/
Definition of naiad

noun (plural naiads or naiades /ˈnʌɪəˌdiːz/)

  • 1(in classical mythology) a water nymph said to inhabit a river, spring, or waterfall.
  • 2the aquatic larva or nymph of a dragonfly, mayfly, or stonefly.
  • 3a submerged aquatic plant with narrow leaves and minute flowers.
    • Genus Najas, family Najadaceae

Origin:

via Latin from Greek Naias, Naiad-, from naein 'to flow'. Use as a term in entomology and botany dates from the early 20th century

naiad in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of naiad in the US English dictionary

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