brittle star
or brit·tle·star
any echinoderm of the class Ophiuroidea, having the body composed of a central, rounded disk from which radiate long, slender, fragile arms.
Origin of brittle star
1- Also called serpent star.
Words Nearby brittle star
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use brittle star in a sentence
We saw just now that the brittle-star breaks off its own rays at the slightest alarm.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History | Theodore WoodIn fact, they are so ready to do so that it is very difficult indeed to obtain a perfect brittle-star for a museum.
The Animal World, A Book of Natural History | Theodore WoodThe name brittle-star is also descriptive, since they break off their limbs readily.
The Sea-beach at Ebb-tide | Augusta Foote ArnoldPerhaps the brittle star has found this dodge useful in escaping from enemies.
On the Seashore | R. Cadwallader SmithThus, for instance, when a Brittle-star has its nerve-ring severed between each ray, an interesting series of events follows.
British Dictionary definitions for brittle-star
any echinoderm of the class Ophiuroidea, occurring on the sea bottom and having five long slender arms radiating from a small central disc: See also basket-star
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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