tar·di·grade (tär d -gr d )n. Any of various slow-moving, microscopic invertebrates of the phylum Tardigrada, related to the arthropods and having four body segments and eight legs and living in water or damp moss. Also called water bear. adj.1. Of or belonging to the Tardigrada. 2. Slow in action; slow-moving.
[New Latin Tardigrada, phylum name, from neuter pl. of Latin tardigradus, slow-moving : tardus, slow + -gradus, walking, moving (from grad , to go; see transgress). Adj., sense 2, from Latin tardigradus.] |
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| Noun | 1. | tardigrade - an arthropod of the division Tardigradaarthropod - invertebrate having jointed limbs and a segmented body with an exoskeleton made of chitin class Tardigrada, Tardigrada - in some classifications considered a separate phylum: microscopic arachnid-like invertebrates living in water or damp moss having 4 pairs of legs and instead of a mouth a pair of stylets or needlelike piercing organs connected with the pharynx stylet - small needlelike appendage; especially the feeding organ of a tardigrade |