First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
naiad
noun na·iad \ˈnā-əd, ˈnī-, -ˌad\
plural na·iads or na·ia·des \-ə-ˌdēz\
Definition of NAIAD
1
: any of the nymphs in classical mythology living in and giving life to lakes, rivers, springs, and fountains
2
: an aquatic insect nymph (as of a mayfly, dragonfly, damselfly, or stone fly)
3
: any of a genus (Najas of the family Najadaceae) of submerged aquatic plants
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Origin of NAIAD
Middle English, from Middle French or Latin; Middle French naïade, from Latin naiad-, naias, from Greek, from nan to flow — more at nourish
Related to NAIAD
- Synonyms
- dryad, hamadryad, nymph, oread, wood nymph
Rhymes with NAIAD
Akkad, aoudad, Baghdad, Belgrade, Carlsbad, caudad, comrade, Conrad, crash pad, crawdad, doodad, dorsad, dryad, dyad, egad, farad, Flagstad, footpad, gonad, granddad, heptad, horn-mad, ironclad, keypad, launchpad, maenad, monad, mouse pad, Murad, nicad, nomad, NORAD, notepad, pentad, pleiad, postgrad, scratch pad, Sinbad, tetrad, touch pad, triclad
NAIAD Defined for Kids
naiad
noun na·iad \ˈnā-əd\
plural na·iads or na·ia·des \ˈnā-ə-ˌdēz\
Definition of NAIAD for Kids
: a nymph believed in ancient times to be living in lakes, rivers, and springs
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