holothurian

hol·o·thu·ri·an  (hl-thr-n, -thyr-, hl-)

n.

Any of various echinoderms of the class Holothuroidea, which includes the sea cucumbers.

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[From Latin holothria, water polyp, from Greek holothourion.]

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holo·thuri·an adj.

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holothurian [ˌhɒləˈθjʊərɪən]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) any echinoderm of the class Holothuroidea, including the sea cucumbers, having a leathery elongated body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) of, relating to, or belonging to the Holothuroidea

[from New Latin Holothūria name of type genus, from Latin: water polyp, from Greek holothourion, of obscure origin]

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holothurian  (hl-thr-n, hl-)

Any of various echinoderms of the class Holothuroidea, characterized by elongated bodies with tentacles around the mouth and five rows of tube feet. Holothurians are softer than other echinoderms because they lack spines and the skeleton is greatly reduced. Holothurians can extrude their internal organs to distract predators and grow a new set within a few weeks. Also called sea cucumber.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

holothurian - echinoderm having a flexible sausage-shaped body, tentacles surrounding the mouth and tube feet; free-living mud feeders sea cucumber echinoderm - marine invertebrates with tube feet and five-part radially symmetrical bodies class Holothuroidea, Holothuroidea - class of echinoderms including the sea cucumbers Holothuria edulis, trepang - of warm coasts from Australia to Asia; used as food especially by Chinese