alcyonarian

[ al-see-uh-nair-ee-uhn ]

noun
  1. any anthozoan coelenterate of the subclass Alcyonaria, as corals and sea anemones, having the tentacles and other body parts in branches or segments of eight.

adjective
  1. belonging or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.

Origin of alcyonarian

1
1875–80; <New Latin Alcyonari(a) (<Greek alkyón(ion) a type of coral named from its resemblance to the nest of the kingfisher (alkyṓn) + Latin -āria-ary) + -an

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Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

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