[muh-doo-suh, -zuh, -dyoo-] 
[-see, -zee] . Zoology. | a saucer-shaped or dome-shaped, free-swimming jellyfish or hydra. |
[muh-doo-soid, -dyoo-] , adjective | me·du·sa (mĭ-dōō'sə, -zə, -dyōō'-) n. pl. me·du·sas or me·du·sae (-sē, -zē) The tentacled, usually bell-shaped, free-swimming sexual stage in the life cycle of a coelenterate, such as a jellyfish. [Latin Medūsa, Medusa (from the Medusa's snaky locks); see Medusa.] |
| Me·dus·a (mĭ-dōō'sə,-zə, -dyōō'-) n. pl. Me·du·sas or Me·du·sae (-sē, -zē) Greek Mythology The Gorgon who was killed by Perseus. [Middle English Meduse, from Latin Medūsa, from Greek Medousa, from feminine present participle of medein, to protect, rule over; see med- in Indo-European roots.] |
medusa (mĭ-d 'sə) Pronunciation Key
Plural medusas or medusae (mĭ-d 'sē)
A cnidarian in its free-swimming stage. Medusas are bell-shaped, with tentacles hanging down around a central mouth. Jellyfish are medusas, while corals and sea anemones lack a medusa stage and exist only as polyps. Compare polyp. |
sə