noun
gorgon
GAWR-guhn
noun
1
In Greek mythology, one of three monstrous sisters with snakes for hair, whose gaze turned people to stone.
"Medusa was the most famous of the Gorgons."
"Perseus avoided the gorgon's gaze by watching her reflection."
2
A fierce, frightening, or intimidating woman.
"The headmistress was a real gorgon when it came to uniform rules."
How to Use Gorgon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe snake-haired monster of Greek myth, or, as an insult, a scary/fierce woman.
Common pairings
a gorgon's stare
like a gorgon
Word Forms
gorgons plural
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Etymology
From Ancient Greek Gorgṓ, related to gorgós ("terrible, fierce") — likely echoing a harsh, growling sound, much like an onomatopoeia for a monster's snarl.