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n. Any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a naked cylindrical body and an oral opening surrounded by tentacles.

n. Any of several small freshwater polyps of the genus Hydra and related genera, having a naked cylindrical body and an oral opening surrounded by tentacles.

n. A complex, multifarious problem or situation that cannot be solved easily and rapidly.

n. A serpent or monster in the lake or marsh of Lerna, in the Peloponnesus, represented as having many heads, one of which, when cut off, was immediately succeeded by two others, unless the wound was cauterized. It was slain by Hercules. Hence, a terrible monster.

n. Hence: A multifarious evil, or an evil having many sources; not to be overcome by a single effort.

n. Any small fresh-water hydroid of the genus Hydra, usually found attached to sticks, stones, etc., by a basal sucker.

n. A southern constellation of great length lying southerly from Cancer, Leo, and Virgo.

n. In Greek myth, a monstrous serpent or dragon of the lake or marsh of Lerna in Argolis, represented as having nine heads, each of which, being cut off, was immediately succeeded by two new ones unless the wound was cauterized. The destruction of this monster was one of the twelve labors of Hercules.

n. Hence—2. Figuratively, multifarious evil; evil or misfortune arising from many sources and not easily to be surmounted.

n. [capitalized] An ancient southern constellation, representing a sea-serpent.

n. In zoology: A venomous sea-snake; any one of the Hydrophidæ of the Indian ocean.

n. In Hydrozoa: [capitalized] A genus of fresh-water polyps of very simple structure, typical of the family Hydridæ.

n. An individual or a species of the genus Hydra.

n. The sexual bud or medusa of any hydroid hydrozoan: so called from its resemblance to a species of the genus Hydra.

n. A form of self-registering thermometer having a compound head or bulb to contain the spirits, with the object of increasing the surface exposed to the air, and thus making the instrument work with great rapidity.

n. a long faint constellation in the southern hemisphere near the equator stretching between Virgo and Cancer

n. small tubular solitary freshwater hydrozoan polyp

n. trouble that cannot be overcome by a single effort because of its many aspects or its persistent and pervasive quality

n. (Greek mythology) monster with nine heads; when struck off each head was replaced by two new ones

"The Governor of Adamawa State, Admiral Murtala Nyako (rtd.), has rated performance of the Nigerian press very high in recent years considering what he described as the hydra-headed challenges journalists encounter in the discharge of their duties."

constellation    hydrozoan    hydroid    trouble    problem    mythical monster    mythical creature   

cor hydræ    hydra tuba   

hydrae   

cauterization    denouncer    hotbed    volvox    mollusks    town    sphinx    battle-ax