cnidarians
|cni-dar-i-ans|
C1
/naɪˈdɛəriənz/
(cnidarian)
stinging aquatic animals
Etymology
Etymology Information
'cnidarian' originates from the Greek word 'knidē,' meaning 'nettle,' referring to the stinging cells characteristic of these organisms.
Historical Evolution
The term 'cnidarian' was derived from the Greek 'knidē' and was adopted into modern scientific terminology to describe this phylum.
Meaning Changes
Initially, it referred to the stinging cells, but now it encompasses the entire phylum of aquatic invertebrates.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of the phylum Cnidaria, which includes aquatic invertebrates such as jellyfish, corals, and sea anemones.
Cnidarians are known for their stinging cells called cnidocytes.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/04/13 11:08