holothurian

noun

ho·lo·thu·ri·an ˌhō-lə-ˈthu̇r-ē-ən

-ˈthyu̇r-,

ˌhä-

: sea cucumber

holothurian adjective

Examples of holothurian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

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Marine invertebrates—from octopuses to hermit crabs and creatures like the bizarre holothurians—are the focus of this photography book. —

Tim Flannery, The New York Review of Books, 7 Mar. 2019

Word History

Etymology

New Latin Holothuria, a sea cucumber genus (going back to Latin, plural of holothūrion, zoophyte-like sea creature of uncertain identity, borrowed from Greek holothoúrion, of obscure origin) + -an entry 1

First Known Use

circa 1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of holothurian was circa 1842

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Holothurian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/holothurian. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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