naiad

Inflections of 'naiad' (n):

nai•ad n., pl. -ads, -a•des

Mythology(sometimes cap.) [Class. Myth.]any of a class of nymphs presiding over rivers and springs.
Insectsthe juvenile form of the dragonfly, damselfly, or mayfly.
a female swimmer, esp. an expert one.
Plant Biology[Bot.]a plant of the genus Najas, having narrow leaves and solitary flowers.
Insects[Entomol.]an aquatic nymph.
Invertebratesa freshwater mussel.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

naiad /ˈnaɪæd/ n ( pl -ads, -ades /-əˌdiːz/)

a nymph dwelling in a lake, river, spring, or fountain
the aquatic larva of the dragonfly, mayfly, and related insects
Also called: water nymph any monocotyledonous submerged aquatic plant of the genus Naias (or Najas), having narrow leaves and small flowers: family Naiadaceae (or Najadaceae)
any of certain freshwater mussels of the genus Unio
See mussel

Etymology: 17th Century: via Latin from Greek nāias water nymph; related to náein to flow

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