amphioxus

[ am-fee-ok-suhs ]

/ ˌæm fiˈɒk səs /

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noun, plural am·phi·ox·i

[am-fee-ok-sahy], /ˌæm fiˈɒk saɪ/, am·phi·ox·us·es.

Zoology. lancelet.

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Origin of amphioxus

1830–40; <New Latin: literally, sharp at both ends <Greek amphi-amphi- + oxýs pointed

Words nearby amphioxus

Amphimarus, amphimixis, Amphinome, Amphinomus, Amphion, amphioxus, amphipathic, amphiphile, amphiphilic, amphiploid, amphipod

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use amphioxus in a sentence

The amphioxus, the bridge between invertebrates and vertebrates, is not hermaphrodite.
The Natural Philosophy of Love|Remy de Gourmont
The ovum of Amphioxus contains very little food material and its segmentation is quite uniform.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
When the egg of Amphioxus is in the blastosphere stage we cannot speak of either an epiblast or hypoblast.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour
I carefully made transverse sections of a successfully hardened Amphioxus, through the whole length of the body.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour

The arrangement of the nerves of Amphioxus, according to my own observations, is as follows.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume 1|Francis Maitland Balfour

British Dictionary definitions for amphioxus

amphioxus

/ (ˌæmfɪˈɒksəs) /

noun plural -oxi (-ˈɒksaɪ) or -oxuses

another name for the lancelet

Word Origin for amphioxus

C19: from New Latin: both ends being sharp, from amphi- + Greek oxus sharp

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

Scientific definitions for amphioxus

amphioxus

[ ăm′fē-ŏk′səs ]

See lancelet.