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Definition of cyclops

cyclops

/ˈsaɪ.klɑːps/
cy · clops
Plural:cyclopes
•
Adjective:cyclopean
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cyclops Lexical Profile

cyclops Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A member of a primordial race of giants in Greek and Roman mythology, characterized by a single large eye in the middle of the forehead.

Example

"In Homer's Odyssey, the hero and his crew are trapped in the cave of the fierce cyclops Polyphemus."

2

Any minute freshwater copepod crustacean of the genus Cyclops, having an elongated pear-shaped body and a single median eye near the front of its head.

Word Nuance & Usage

The classical plural is 'cyclopes' (pronounced sy-KLOH-peez), though the regularized English plural 'cyclopses' is also widely accepted in modern usage.

• Nearby Words

cyclone
cyclonic
cyclopedia
cyclops
cyclops snake
cyclura
cygnet

Word Origin & Etymology

Borrowed from Latin 'Cyclops', from Ancient Greek 'Kyklops' (literally 'round-eyed'), formed from 'kyklos' (circle, wheel) and 'ops' (eye, face).

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cyclops. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cyclops
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