1. In Greek mythology, a sea nymph; one of the fifty daughters of Nereus, the sea god.
Usage: Usually capitalized when referring to the mythological beings; Often used in classical literature and poetry
2. A marine worm of the family Nereididae, having a segmented body with paired appendages.
Usage: Lowercase when referring to the zoological organism; Technical/scientific usage

Examples

• In Homer's works, the Nereids were depicted as beautiful goddesses of the sea.
• Thetis, the most famous Nereid, was the mother of Achilles.
• The ancient Greeks honored the Nereids with prayers before sailing.
• Marine biologists studied the nereid worms found in the rocky tide pools.
• Nereids are important organisms in coastal ecosystems and food webs.