Metazoa

[ met-uh-zoh-uh ]

/ ˌmɛt əˈzoʊ ə /

noun

a zoological group comprising the multicellular animals.

Origin of Metazoa

From New Latin, dating back to 1870–75; see origin at meta-, -zoa

OTHER WORDS FROM Metazoa

met·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. 2019

Examples from the Web for metazoan

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

/ (ˌmɛtəˈzəʊən) /

noun

any multicellular animal of the group Metazoa : includes all animals except sponges

adjective Also: metazoic

of, relating to, or belonging to the Metazoa

Word Origin for metazoan

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

Medicine definitions for metazoan

Metazoa

[ mĕt′ə-zō′ə ]

n.

A subdivision of the animal kingdom that includes all multicellular animal organisms having cells that are differentiated and form tissues and organs.

Other words from Metazoa

met′a•zo′an adj. n.

Science definitions for metazoan

metazoan

[ mĕt′ə-zō′ən ]

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.

A multicellular animal. No longer in scientific use.