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coelenterate


Definition of coelenterate

noun

Zoology
  • an aquatic invertebrate animal of a phylum that includes jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones. They typically have a tube- or cup-shaped body with a single opening ringed with tentacles that bear stinging cells (nematocysts). Also called cnidarian.
    • Phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata): four classes

Origin:

late 19th century: from modern Latin Coelenterata, from Greek koilos 'hollow' + enteron 'intestine'

coelenterate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of coelenterate in the US English dictionary