crown-of-thorns starfish
Americannoun
Etymology
Origin of crown-of-thorns starfish
First recorded in 1960–65
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.
In 2010, crown-of-thorns starfish and a cyclone destroyed more than 99% of the corals, effectively hitting the reset button on the reef.
From Science Daily ● Dec. 18, 2023
The reef has also been damaged by coral-eating crown-of-thorns starfish and tropical cyclones which generate damaging waves.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2022
Another AU$253 million will support the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, which manages the world’s largest coral reef ecosystem, in efforts to reduce threats from the crown-of-thorns starfish and to prevent illegal fishing.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 28, 2022
Remember the crown-of-thorns starfish that are eating the coral in Raja Ampat, an Indonesian beauty spot?
From Washington Post ● Dec. 29, 2019
Villagers are also removing the crown-of-thorns starfish, which eat coral, from the reef.
From New York Times ● Oct. 24, 2018
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
