poriferan

[paw-rif-er-uh n, poh-, puh-]

noun

any animal of the phylum Porifera, comprising the sponges.

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the Porifera.

Origin of poriferan

First recorded in 1860–65; Porifer(a) + -an

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for poriferan

poriferan

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

poriferan in Science

poriferan

[pə-rĭf′ər-ən]

See sponge.