invertebrate
Pronunciation: /ɪnˈvəːtɪbrət/
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Definition of invertebrate
noun
- an animal lacking a backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusc, annelid, coelenterate, etc. The invertebrates constitute an artificial division of the animal kingdom, comprising 95 per cent of animal species and about thirty different phyla. Compare with vertebrate.
adjective
Origin:
early 19th century (as a noun): from modern Latin invertebrata (plural) 'the invertebrates' (former taxonomic group), from French invertébrés, from in- 'without' + Latin vertebra (see vertebra)
Spelling help
Spell invertebrate with -teb- in the middle.