coelenterate

coe·len·ter·ate  (s-lnt-rt, -tr-t)

n.

See cnidarian.

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[From New Latin Coelenterta, phylum name : Greek koilos, hollow; see -coel + enter(on) + -ate¹.]

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coe·len·teric (-trk) adj.

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coelenterate [seel-lent-a-rate]

Noun

any invertebrate that has a saclike body with a single opening, such as a jellyfish or coral [Greek koilos hollow + enteron intestine]

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coelenterate  (s-lnt-rt)

See cnidarian.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

coelenterate - radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms cnidarian coelenteron - the saclike body cavity of a coelenterate invertebrate - any animal lacking a backbone or notochord; the term is not used as a scientific classification Cnidaria, Coelenterata, phylum Cnidaria, phylum Coelenterata - hydras; polyps; jellyfishes; sea anemones; corals polyp - one of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth; "in some species of coelenterate, polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a medusoid phase" medusan, medusoid, medusa - one of two forms that coelenterates take: it is the free-swimming sexual phase in the life cycle of a coelenterate; in this phase it has a gelatinous umbrella-shaped body and tentacles jellyfish - any of numerous usually marine and free-swimming coelenterates that constitute the sexually reproductive forms of hydrozoans and scyphozoans scyphozoan - any of various usually free-swimming marine coelenterates having a gelatinous medusoid stage as the dominant phase of its life cycle hydroid, hydrozoan - colonial coelenterates having the polyp phase dominant actinozoan, anthozoan - sessile marine coelenterates including solitary and colonial polyps; the medusoid phase is entirely suppressed