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poriferan
[ paw-rif-er-uhn, poh-, puh- ]
/ pɔˈrɪf ər ən, poʊ-, pə- /
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noun
any animal of the phylum Porifera, comprising the sponges.
adjective
belonging or pertaining to the Porifera.
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Origin of poriferan
First recorded in 1860–65; Porifer(a) + -an
Words nearby poriferan
por favor, porgy, Porgy and Bess, Pori, Porifera, poriferan, poriferous, poriform, porina, porion, Porirua
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
British Dictionary definitions for poriferan
poriferan
/ (pɔːˈrɪfərən) /
noun
any invertebrate of the phylum Porifera, which comprises the sponges
adjective Also: poriferous
of, relating to, or belonging to the phylum Porifera
Word Origin for poriferan
C19: 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 ]
See sponge.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.