holothurian

American  

[hol-uh-thoor-ee-uhn, hoh-luh-] / ˌhɒl əˈθʊər i ən, ˌhoʊ lə- /

Also holothurioid

noun

1. any echinoderm of the class Holothuroidea, comprising the sea cucumbers.

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adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the Holothuroidea.

holothurian British  

/ ˌhɒləˈθjʊərɪən /

noun

1. any echinoderm of the class Holothuroidea, including the sea cucumbers, having a leathery elongated body with a ring of tentacles around the mouth

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adjective

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

holothurian Scientific  

/ hŏl′ə-thr′ē-ən,hō′lə- /

1. Any of various echinoderms of the class Holothuroidea, characterized by elongated bodies with tentacles around the mouth and five rows of tube feet. Holothurians are softer than other echinoderms because they lack spines and the skeleton is greatly reduced. Holothurians can extrude their internal organs to distract predators and grow a new set within a few weeks.

2. Also called sea cucumber

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Etymology

Origin of holothurian

1835–45; < New Latin Holothuri ( a ) genus name (plural of Latin holothūrium < Greek holothoúrion kind of zoophyte, equivalent to holo- holo- + -thourion < ?) + -an

Example Sentences

A kind of holothurian larva, with soft, blunt appendages.

From Webster's Unabridged Dictionary (2nd 100 Pages) by Webster, Noah