radiolarians - Meaning, Image, Examples & Etymology - Learn English Visually

radiolarians

|ra-di-o-lar-i-ans|

🇺🇸

/ˌreɪdiəˈlɛəriənz/

🇬🇧

/ˌreɪdiəʊˈlɛəriənz/

(radiolarian)

marine organism with silica skeleton

Base Form	Plural
radiolarian	radiolarians

Etymology

Etymology Information

'radiolarian' originates from the Latin word 'radiolus,' meaning 'small ray,' referring to the radiating spines of the organism.

Historical Evolution

'Radiolus' transformed into the modern English word 'radiolarian' through scientific Latin.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to the radiating spines, but now it encompasses the entire organism.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a type of single-celled marine organism with a silica-based skeleton, often found in plankton.

Radiolarians are known for their intricate mineral skeletons.

Synonyms

Examples

Last updated: 2025/05/07 18:51