ascidian

[ uh-sid-ee-uhn ]

noun

1. any solitary or colonial tunicate of the class Ascidiacea, exhibiting in the larval stage the vertebrate characteristics of a notocord and hollow nerve cord.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the class Ascidiacea.

ascidian

/ əˈsɪdɪən /

noun

1. any minute marine invertebrate animal of the class Ascidiacea, such as the sea squirt, the adults of which are degenerate and sedentary: subphylum Tunicata (tunicates)
2. ascidian tadpole
   the free-swimming larva of an ascidian, having a tadpole-like tail containing the notochord and nerve cord

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Ascidiacea

Word History and Origins

Origin of ascidian¹

1855–60; < New Latin Ascidi ( um ) a tunicate genus ( ascidium ) + -an

Example Sentences

They pass through peculiar phases of development, the young ascidian appearing like a tadpole-body.

From Project Gutenberg

Castle77 observed and studied the phenomenon of self-sterility in an Ascidian, Ciona intestinalis, which is hermaphroditic.

From Project Gutenberg

Now this new organisation is not that of a branchial apparatus but represents a very small but complete ascidian (Fig. 13).

From Project Gutenberg

Appendicularia is a curious little Ascidian, differing from all the others in its possession of a tail.

From Project Gutenberg

He pointed out also that the "notochord" was confined to the tail of the ascidian larva.

From Project Gutenberg