zooid

zo·oid  (zoid)

n.

1.

a. An organic cell or organized body that has independent movement within a living organism, especially a motile gamete such as a spermatozoon.

b. An independent animallike organism produced asexually, as by budding or fission.

2. One of the distinct individuals forming a colonial animal such as a bryozoan or hydrozoan.

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zo·oidal (-oidl) adj.

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zooid [zoh-oid]

Noun

1. any independent animal body, such as an individual of a coral colony

2. a cell or body, produced by an organism and capable of independent motion, such as a gamete [Greek zōion animal]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

zooid - one of the distinct individuals forming a colonial animal such as a bryozoan or hydrozoan organism, being - a living thing that has (or can develop) the ability to act or function independently