hydra
Tiny tentacled invertebrate
A hydra is a many-headed serpent from Greek mythology that grew two heads for each one cut off—making it nearly impossible to kill.
The word now describes any problem that multiplies when you try to solve it: Every time we fix one bug, two more appear—it's a hydra.
In biology, hydra refers to tiny freshwater organisms with remarkable regenerative abilities, named for the mythical creature. (Capitalized Hydra is the specific mythological monster or a constellation.)
Having multiple heads
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- regeneratingForming anew after loss
- headsTop of bodies
monster · beast · fangs · scales · venomous · lair · coils · necks
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- polypFleshy membrane projection
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
- regenerationBiological self-repair process
budding · invertebrate · microscopic · genus · nematocysts · biology · zoology · asexual
Continuing despite difficulty
- resilientAble to recover quickly
- problemMatter requiring resolution
- challengeTest of ability
- multiplyingIncreasing by repeated addition
regrowth · unstoppable · network · threat · cutoff · resurgent · insurmountable · complexity
multiheaded
Having multiple heads
- serpentCunning, limbless reptile
- dragonLegendary fire-breathing reptile
- regeneratingForming anew after loss
heads · monster · beast · fangs · scales · venomous · lair · coils · necks · fearsome
cnidarian
Stinging aquatic invertebrate
- polypFleshy membrane projection
- tentaclesFlexible grasping appendages
- freshwaterNon-saline aquatic environment
regeneration · budding · invertebrate · microscopic · genus · nematocysts · biology · zoology · asexual · tubular
persistent
Continuing despite difficulty
multiplying · regrowth · unstoppable · network · threat · cutoff · resurgent · insurmountable · complexity · recurring
- Dragonsdragon egg, dragon breath, dragonfire, dragon dance, baby dragon
- mythologyZeus, Apollo, Athena, Poseidon, Odin
- bestiary creaturesdragon, mermaid, unicorn, phoenix, centaur
- cnidarianssea anemone, corals, stony coral, moon jelly, jellyfish
- Game Creaturesslime, skeleton, zombie, spider, goblin
- hydrozoanshydrozoan, hydroid, Portuguese man-of-war, bluebottle, man-of-war
- fire hydrantStreet water outlet
- hydrogen balloonBuoyant craft using lightest element
- hydrogen bombThermonuclear fusion weapon
- hydrogen peroxideOxidizing disinfectant and bleach
- hydrothermal ventsSubmarine volcanic water jets
- hydraulic pressFluid-powered compression device
dehydration, hydrant, hydrate, hydrogen, hydraulic, anhydrous, hydrology, hydroponics, hydrocarbon