homocercal

[ hoh-muh-sur-kuh l, hom-uh- ]

/ ˌhoʊ məˈsɜr kəl, ˌhɒm ə- /

adjective Ichthyology.

having an equally divided tail, characteristic of adult modern bony fishes.

Nearby words

homobiotin, homoblastic, homocarnosine, homocentric, homocentricity, homocercal, homochlamydeous, homochromatic, homochrome, homochromous, homochronous

Compare diphycercal, heterocercal.

Origin of homocercal

1830–40; homo- + cerc- (< Greek kérkos tail) + -al¹

Related formsho·mo·cer·cy

[hoh-muh-sur-see, hom-uh-] /ˈhoʊ məˌsɜr si, ˈhɒm ə-/, ho·mo·cer·cal·i·ty

[hoh-muh-ser-kal-i-tee, hom-uh-] /ˌhoʊ mə sərˈkæl ɪ ti, ˌhɒm ə-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for homocercal

homocercal

/ (ˌhəʊməʊˈsɜːkəl, ˌhɒm-) /

adjective

ichthyol of or possessing a symmetrical tail that extends beyond the end of the vertebral column, as in most bony fishesCompare heterocercal

Word Origin for homocercal

C19: from homo- + Greek kerkos tail

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