harpy meaning and definition

HARPY noun

Definition of harpy (noun)

1. a malicious woman with a fierce temper
   • synonyms: hellcat, vixen
2. (Greek mythology) vicious winged monster; often depicted as a bird with the head of a woman
3. any of various fruit bats of the genus Nyctimene distinguished by nostrils drawn out into diverging tubes
   • synonyms: harpy bat, tube-nosed bat, tube-nosed fruit bat
4. large black-and-white crested eagle of tropical America
   • synonyms: Harpia harpyja, harpy eagle