amphioxuses
|am-phi-ox-us-es|
C1
/ˌæmfiˈɒksəsɪz/
(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 the Greek word 'amphioxus' and has remained largely unchanged in modern English.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the sharpness on both sides of the animal, and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a small, elongated marine animal belonging to the subphylum Cephalochordata, often considered a primitive chordate.
Amphioxuses are often studied for their evolutionary significance.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/22 08:36