scyphozoan

scy·pho·zo·an  (sf-zn)

n.

Any of various marine coelenterates of the class Scyphozoa, which includes the large jellyfishes, characterized by the absence of a velum and by a polyp stage that is very small or lacking entirely.

adj.

Of or belonging to the class Scyphozoa.

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[From New Latin Scyphoza, class name : Greek skuphos, cup + New Latin -za, pl. of -zon, -zoon.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

scyphozoan - any of various usually free-swimming marine coelenterates having a gelatinous medusoid stage as the dominant phase of its life cycle cnidarian, coelenterate - radially symmetrical animals having saclike bodies with only one opening and tentacles with stinging structures; they occur in polyp and medusa forms class Scyphozoa, Scyphozoa - coelenterates in which the polyp stage is absent or at least inconspicuous: jellyfishes