1. Plural of nereid; in Greek mythology, sea nymphs who were daughters of Nereus, the old man of the sea.
Usage: mythology; often capitalized
2. Any marine worm of the family Nereididae, characterized by a segmented body and paired appendages.
Usage: zoology; technical

Examples

• In Homer's Iliad, the nereides attended to the needs of the sea god Poseidon.
• The nereides of Greek mythology were often depicted as beautiful and graceful beings.
• Marine biologists study nereides to understand the ecology of coastal ecosystems.
• Nereides are commonly found in tide pools and sandy substrates along the shore.
• The segmented bodies of nereides allow them to move efficiently through water and sediment.