amphioxi
|am-phi-ox-i|
C1
/ˌæmfiˈɒksaɪ/
(amphioxus)
small marine animal
Etymology
Etymology Information
'amphioxus' originates from Greek, specifically the words 'amphi' meaning 'on both sides' and 'oxys' meaning 'sharp'.
Historical Evolution
'amphioxus' was directly borrowed from Greek into modern scientific terminology.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the sharpness on both ends of the animal, and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small, elongated marine animal belonging to the subphylum Cephalochordata, often used in studies of vertebrate evolution.
Amphioxi are often studied for their evolutionary significance.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/22 07:06