comb jelly

American

[kohm] / koʊm /

noun

any marine invertebrate of the phylum Ctenophora, comprising various nearly transparent creatures having rounded, oval, or band-shaped bodies propelled by eight iridescent appendages composed of cilia arranged like teeth on a comb.

comb jelly British

noun

another name for a ctenophore

"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

comb jelly Scientific

/ kōm /

See ctenophore

Etymology

Origin of comb jelly

First recorded in 1885–90

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

comb jelly

According to Ferraioli, the next phase of research will focus on identifying the molecular characteristics of the newly discovered cell types and exploring how strongly the aboral organ influences comb jelly behavior.

From Science Daily ● Mar. 6, 2026

So, the outcomes of future technological evolution could surpass humans by as much as we intellectually surpass a comb jelly.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 1, 2023

Instead, the comb jelly nervous system forms one continuous web.

From New York Times ● May 17, 2023

Every time a warty comb jelly needs to poop, the outer skin and the digestive system fuse to form an opening.

From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2021

A quick search of "comb jelly" shows how many of us get it wrong.

From Salon ● Nov. 10, 2021

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023