naiad

N1A1I1A1D2
/ˈneɪæd//ˈneɪəd//ˈnaɪæd//ˈnaɪəd/

noun

A female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.

Similar
instarlarvanymphwater nymphriver godriver-nymph
OriginLatin Nāïas ← Ancient Greek Νᾱϊάς →
UncommonScrabble 6
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Meanings

naiad1

nounnaiad (plural naiads or naiades)

plural naiads · plural naiades · alternative naias · alternative naïs

  1. Greekhuman sciencesA female deity (nymph) associated with water, especially a spring, stream, or other fresh water.

    A Naiad loved him, and forbade him to hold intercourse with any other woman under pain of loss of sight.

    1828, Thomas Keightley, The Fairy Mythology, volume II, London: William Harrison Ainsworth, page 230
  2. biologyThe aquatic larva (nymph) of a dragonfly or damselfly.

    Synonyms: instar, larva, nymph

  3. Any of various aquatic plants of the genus Najas.

    Synonyms: water nymph

Naiad2

proper noun
  1. astronomyA moon of Neptune

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe aquatic larva (nymph) of a dragonfly or damselfly.

Similar
instarlarvanymph

nounAny of various aquatic plants of the genus Najas.

Similar
water nymph
Similar
river godriver-nymph

More synonyms by meaning

nounsubmerged aquatic plant having narrow leaves and small flowers; of fresh or brackish water

Similar
water nymph
Broader
aquatic plantwater planthydrophyte
Also see
naiasnaïsnymphriver godwater nymph

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient GreekΝᾱϊάς“naiad”
  2. LatinNāïas
  3. Englishnaiad

From Latin Nāïas, from Ancient Greek Νᾱϊάς (Nāïás, “naiad”), from νάω (náō, “to flow”).

More words from Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek Ναϊάς
  • Ναϊάς (Naïás)female deity
Bulgarian наяда
  • наяда (najada)female deity
Catalan nàiada
  • nàiadafemale deity
Chinese Mandarin 那伊阿得, 水澤仙女 /水泽仙女
  • 那伊阿得 (nàyīādé)female deity
  • 水澤仙女 /水泽仙女 (shuǐzéxiānnǚ)female deity
Czech najáda, najáda
  • najádafemale deity
  • najádaaquatic larva
Dutch najade, waternimf
  • najadefemale deity
  • waternimffemale deity
Esperanto najado
  • najadofemale deity
Finnish najadi
  • najadifemale deity
French naïade, naïade
  • naïadefemale deity
  • naïadeaquatic larva
German Najade, Najade
  • Najadefemale deity
  • Najadeaquatic larva
Greek ναϊάδα, νύμφη
  • ναϊάδα (naïáda)female deity
  • νύμφη (nýmfi)aquatic larva
Italian naiade
  • naiadefemale deity
Japanese ナーイアス
  • ナーイアス (nāiasu)female deity
Korean 나이아스
  • 나이아스 (naiaseu)female deity
Polish najada
  • najadafemale deity
Portuguese náiade, náiada
  • náiadefemale deity
  • náiadafemale deity
Russian ная́да, ная́да
  • ная́да (najáda)female deity
  • ная́да (najáda)aquatic larva
Spanish náyade, náyade
  • náyadefemale deity
  • náyadeaquatic larva
Tagalog nayade
  • nayadefemale deity
Ukrainian ная́да
  • ная́да (najáda)female deity

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with naiad

triaddryaddyaddiad
All rhymes →

Anagrams

DianaNadiaAidanDaniaAdinaAdaniAndai
Cite this entry
APA

naiad. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naiad

MLA

“naiad.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naiad. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “naiad,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/naiad.

Source: naiad on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.