triton
/ˈtɹaɪtən/ noun, proper noun
Forms tritons
- noun (particle physics) the nucleus of a tritium atom, consisting of a proton and two neutrons.
- noun Any of several marine gastropods of the family Ranellidae, which have a pointed spiral shell.
- proper noun (Greek mythology) A god of the sea, son of Poseidon.
- proper noun (astronomy) The seventh moon of Neptune.
Synonyms
Etymology
From trit- + -on. From tritium, from Ancient Greek τρίτος (trítos, “third”).
From Triton, who blows such a seashell like a trumpet.
From Ancient Greek Τρίτων (Trítōn).
Webster’s 1913
- noun A fabled sea demigod, the son of Neptune and Amphitrite, and the trumpeter of Neptune. He is represented by poets and painters as having the upper part of his body like that of a man, and the lower part like that of a fish. He often has a trumpet made of a shell.
- noun Any one of many species of marine gastropods belonging to Triton and allied genera, having a stout spiral shell, often handsomely colored and ornamented with prominent varices. Some of the species are among the largest of all gastropods. Called also trumpet shell, and sea trumpet.
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “triton”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details