anthozoan

[an-thuh-zoh-uhn]

noun

1. any marine coelenterate of the class Anthozoa, comprising colonial and solitary polyps and including corals, sea anemones, sea pens, etc.

adjective

1. Also anthozoic belonging or pertaining to the anthozoans.

anthozoan

/ ˌænθəˈzəʊən /

noun

1. any of the solitary or colonial sessile marine coelenterates of the class Anthozoa, including the corals, sea anemones, and sea pens, in which the body is in the form of a polyp

adjective

1. Also: actinozoan. of or relating to the class Anthozoa

Word History and Origins

Origin of anthozoan¹

1885–90; < New Latin Anthozo ( a ) ( antho-, -zoa ) + -an

Example Sentences

This is one of the actinea, or ‘anthozoa,’ so-called from two Greek words meaning ‘living flowers.’

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