isopod

American  

[ahy-suh-pod] / ˈaɪ səˌpɒd /

noun

1. any freshwater, marine, or terrestrial crustacean of the order or suborder Isopoda, having seven pairs of legs typically adapted for crawling, and a dorsoventrally flattened body, and including wood lice, several aquatic parasites of crabs and shrimps, and numerous swimming or bottom-dwelling species.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Isopoda.

2. having the feet all alike, or similar in character.

isopod British  

/ ˈaɪsəʊˌpɒd, aɪˈsɒpədən /

noun

1. any crustacean of the order Isopoda, including woodlice and pill bugs, in which the body is flattened dorsoventrally

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adjective

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

isopod Scientific  

/ ī′sə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of numerous mostly small crustaceans of the order Isopoda, characterized by a flattened body usually bearing seven pairs of legs. Isopods include the sow bugs, pill bugs, and gribbles.

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Other Word Forms

• isopodan
  adjective
• isopodous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of isopod

From the New Latin word Isopoda, dating back to 1825–35. See iso-, -pod

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

isopod

The researchers focused on the species Armadillo sordidus, a little studied isopod that typically spends its time hidden beneath rocks and damp leaf litter, where moisture helps prevent it from drying out.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 6, 2026

The roughly 3-millimeter-long isopod is one of only 15 species from the genus Gnathia currently known in the region, the team wrote in the study.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 4, 2023

The restaurant steams the isopod for 10 minutes before adding it to the top of a bowl of ramen with thick chicken and fish broth.

From Reuters ● May 28, 2023

The seaweed species she was studying, Gracilaria gracilis, always seemed popular with invertebrates, specifically the isopod species Idotea balthica.

From New York Times ● Jul. 28, 2022

The marine isopod Idotea entomon, related to the common wood-louse, has a similar distribution.

From The History of the European Fauna by Scharff, Robert Francis