crown-of-thorns starfish
[ kroun-uh v-thawrnz ]
/ ˈkraʊn əvˈθɔrnz /
noun
a starfish, Acanthaster planci, that feeds on living coral polyps, causing erosion and destruction of coral reefs.
RELATED CONTENT
What Character Was Removed From The Alphabet?Johnson & Johnson, Barnes & Noble, Dolce & Gabbana: the ampersand today is used primarily in business names, but that small character was once the 27th part of the alphabet. Where did it come from though? The origin of its name is almost as bizarre as the name itself.
Nearby words
crown wheel, crown-heel length, crown-jewel option, crown-of-jewels, crown-of-thorns, crown-of-thorns starfish, crown-rump length, crownbeard, crowned, crowned head, crowner
Origin of crown-of-thorns starfish
First recorded in 1960–65
Also called crown of thorns.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019