poriferan
[ paw-rif-er-uhn, poh-, puh- ]
noun
any animal of the phylum Porifera, comprising the sponges.
adjective
belonging or pertaining to the Porifera.
Origin of poriferan
1First recorded in 1860–65; Porifer(a) + -an
Words Nearby poriferan
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for poriferan
poriferan
/ (pɔːˈrɪfərən) /
noun
any invertebrate of the phylum Porifera, which comprises the sponges
adjectiveAlso: poriferous
of, relating to, or belonging to the phylum Porifera
Origin of poriferan
1C19: from New Latin porifer bearing pores
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
Scientific definitions for poriferan
poriferan
[ pə-rĭf′ər-ən ]
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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