1. Minute free-swimming freshwater copepod having a large median eye and pear-shaped body and long antennae used in swimming; important in some food chains and as intermediate hosts of parasitic worms that affect man e.g. Guinea worms
   "Cyclops can be seen darting about in pond water samples under a microscope";
   - water flea

1. (Greek mythology) one of a group of giants having a single eye in the middle of their forehead

Derived forms: Cyclopses, Cyclopes, cyclops

Type of: copepod, copepod crustacean, giant

Part of: genus Cyclops

Encyclopedia: Cyclops