io
io Lexical Profile
io Game Scores & Validity
• noun
(capitalized) The innermost and third-largest of the four Galilean moons of the planet Jupiter, notable for being the most volcanically active celestial body in the solar system.
"Through the backyard telescope, the astronomer observed Io passing in front of Jupiter's banded cloud tops."
(capitalized) In Greek mythology, a mortal princess of Argos and priestess of Hera who was loved by Zeus and transformed into a white heifer to hide her from Hera's jealousy.
"In Ovid's Metamorphoses, the story of Io recounts how she wandered the earth before regaining her human form in Egypt."
North American A large, colorful North American saturniid moth (Automeris io) whose hindwings each bear a prominent, dark circular eyespot used to startle predators; also called the io moth.
"When startled by a bird, the resting io flashed its bright hindwing eyespots to deter the attacker."
A medium-sized hawk (Buteo solitarius) endemic to the islands of Hawaii, typically inhabiting native forests on the island of Hawaii; also called the Hawaiian hawk.
"The io soared effortlessly above the canopy of native ohia trees on the slopes of Mauna Loa."
A loud cry or exclamation of joy, triumph, or exultation.
"The victorious poet was greeted with loud ios of praise from the assembled crowd."
• interjection
An exclamation of joy, triumph, or exultation (historically and poetically used in classical invocations).
"The chorus chanted "Io, Bacchus!" as the festival procession wound through the ancient streets."
• Rhymes for io
Word Origin & Etymology
The interjection and common noun derive from Latin io and Ancient Greek ἰώ (iō), an exclamation of joy, triumph, or invocation. The mythological, astronomical, and entomological senses derive from Io (Ancient Greek Ἰώ), a priestess of Hera in Greek mythology who was loved by Zeus and transformed into a white heifer.