craniate
|cra-ni-ate|
/ˈkreɪniət/
having a skull
Etymology
'craniate' originates from New Latin, specifically the word 'Craniata', where 'kranion' meant 'skull'.
'craniate' changed from the New Latin word 'Craniata' used in scientific classification and eventually became the modern English word 'craniate' through 19th-century zoological usage.
Initially, it meant 'having a skull' in a taxonomic or descriptive sense, and this meaning has remained largely the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a member of Craniata; an animal possessing a cranium (skull), broadly including vertebrates and, in some classifications, hagfishes.
A craniate is characterized by the presence of a skull that protects the brain.
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Antonyms
Adjective 1
having a cranium; relating to the cranium or skull.
Craniate species exhibit cranial adaptations for protecting the brain.
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Last updated: 2026/01/06 10:40