amphioxus

[am-fee-ok-suh s]

See more synonyms for amphioxus on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural am·phi·ox·i

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

Zoology. lancelet.

Origin of amphioxus

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for amphioxus

Historical Examples

This shows that Amphioxus is a comparatively primitive type.
Stories of the Universe: Animal Life
B. Lindsay
Amphioxus, like the tunicates, does not possess the characteristics of other vertebrates.
The Origin of Vertebrates
Walter Holbrook Gaskell
The skeleton of Amphioxus is partly hypoblastic, partly mesoblastic in origin.
The Vertebrate Skeleton
Sidney H. Reynolds
I remarked that his friend next door had shown me an Amphioxus.
The Journal of a Disappointed Man
Wilhelm Nero Pilate Barbellion
Wilson, separation of segmentation spheres of amphioxus egg, 60.
The Biological Problem of To-day
Oscar Hertwig

British Dictionary definitions for amphioxus

amphioxus

noun plural -oxi (-ˈɒksaɪ) or -oxuses

another name for the lancelet

Word Origin

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

amphioxus in Science