English Reference

Word

cyclops

Phoneticscy·clops

US/ˈsaɪˌkɫɔps/

UK/sˈaɪkləps/

Definition

n. a giant from ancient Greek stories who has only one large eye in the middle of their forehead.

n. a member of a race of giants in Greek mythology, typically depicted with a single circular eye centered in the forehead.

Examples

“The hero had to escape from the cave of the hungry cyclops.”

“In the epic poem, the protagonist uses his wits to blind the cyclops and flee with his men.”

“The myth of the cyclops may have originated from ancient discoveries of elephant skulls, where the central nasal cavity was mistaken for a single giant eye socket.”

Examples

simple

“The hero had to escape from the cave of the hungry cyclops.”

contextual

“In the epic poem, the protagonist uses his wits to blind the cyclops and flee with his men.”

complex

“The myth of the cyclops may have originated from ancient discoveries of elephant skulls, where the central nasal cavity was mistaken for a single giant eye socket.”

Usage

The plural form is typically 'cyclopes' in classical contexts, though 'cyclopses' is common in modern English.

Real-World Examples

“Uncredited Mario Bava directed the scenes with the Cyclops (Italian wrestler Umberto Silvestri) during which Ulysses and his crew steal not just the giant’s sheep but also his cheese.”
The Guardian · 3 Sept 2026

Idioms

to outwit the Cyclops — To defeat a much stronger opponent by using cleverness rather than force.

Domain

Zoology

This entry

Level
C2 · Proficiency
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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English Reference