sand dollar

American  

noun

1. any of various flat, disklike sea urchins, as Mellita testudinata or Echinarachnius parma, that live on sandy bottoms off the coasts of the U.S.

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sand dollar British  

noun

1. any of various flattened disclike echinoderms of the order Clypeasteroida, of shallow North American coastal waters: class Echinoidea (sea urchins)

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Etymology

Origin of sand dollar

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

But starfish—as well as sand dollars and sea anemones—have radial symmetry, with identical segments of their body radiating out from a central point.

From Scientific American

Echinoderms are a group of animals including starfish, sea urchins and sand dollars, all of which have a five-part symmetric body layout.

From Washington Times

The impressive exhibit features shells the size of small dogs, adult hand-sized sand dollars, giant horseshoe crab domiciles, column-like shells, leather corals, square sea stars and other curiosities among thousands.

From Seattle Times

Gift shops sell furry bison figurines, and sand dollars are etched with bison silhouettes.

From Los Angeles Times

“People from Aptos find all kinds of stuff washed up on that beach, like horse teeth or fossilized sand dollars,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times