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Definition of naiad : 1. A water nymph; one of the lower female divinities, fabled to preside over some body of fresh water, as a lake, river, brook, or fountain.
2. Any plant of the order Naiadaceae, such as eelgrass, pondweed, etc.
3. Any species of a tribe ( Naiades) of freshwater bivalves, including Unio, Anodonta, and numerous allied genera; a river mussel.
4. One of a group of butterflies. See Nymph.

Synonyms:

fairy, water sprite, sprite, undine, water spirit, water nymph, pond lily, fragrant water lily

Usage examples:

• The mother was like a bubbling fountain of questions, constantly pouring forth; the daughter like the fountain's beautiful naiad, listening to its murmurs. - "The Sand-Hills of Jutland", Hans Christian Andersen.
• The fair hair rippled in a shower of curls about the little girlish head, she looked as fresh as a naiad peeping out through the crystal pane of her stream to take a look at the spring flowers. - "The Firm of Nucingen", Honore de Balzac.
• Some naiad Circe combs her hair far below the weeds, and has bewitched the wildfowl and the green cold water. - "Highways and Byways in Surrey", Eric Parker.