COELENTERATE

COELENTERATE Coe *len "ter *ate, a. (Zoöl.)

coelenterate

coe len ter ate |siˈlentəˌrāt, -rət siˈlɛntəreɪt | ▶noun Zoology an aquatic invertebrate animal of a phylum that includes jellyfishes, corals, and sea anemones. They are distinguished by having a tube- or cup-shaped body and a single opening ringed with tentacles. Also called cnidarian. [Phylum Cnidaria (formerly Coelenterata ): four classes. ] ORIGIN late 19th cent.: from modern Latin Coelenterata, from Greek koilos ‘hollow ’ + enteron ‘intestine. ’

coelenterate

coelenterate |siːˈlɛnt (ə )rət, -reɪt | ▶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 cent.: from modern Latin Coelenterata, from Greek koilos ‘hollow ’ + enteron ‘intestine ’.