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Metazoa

[met-uh-zoh-uh]
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noun
  1. a zoological group comprising the multicellular animals.
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Origin of Metazoa

From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; see origin at meta-, -zoa
Related formsmet·a·zo·an, adjective, nounmet·a·zo·ic, met·a·zo·al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for metazoan

Historical Examples

  • In the Metazoan body each cell performs, in co-operation with many other similar cells, some one special function or process.

    Elementary Zoology, Second Edition

    Vernon L. Kellogg

British Dictionary definitions for metazoan

metazoan

noun
  1. any multicellular animal of the group Metazoa : includes all animals except sponges
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adjective Also: metazoic
  1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Metazoa
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Word Origin

C19: from New Latin Metazoa; see meta-, -zoa
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
metazoan in Medicine

Metazoa

(mĕt′ə-zō′ə)
n.
  1. A subdivision of the animal kingdom that includes all multicellular animal organisms having cells that are differentiated and form tissues and organs.
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Related formsmet′a•zo′an adj. n.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
metazoan in Science

metazoan

[mĕt′ə-zō′ən]
  1. Any of the animals belonging to the subkingdom Metazoa, having a body made up of differentiated cells arranged in tissues and organs. All multicellular animals besides sponges are metazoans.
  2. A multicellular animal. No longer in scientific use.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.