sea star

American  

noun

1. starfish.

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Etymology

Origin of sea star

First recorded in 1560–70

Example Sentences

As his students sliced and cataloged each layer of mud, they gasped in wonder at the tiny worms, snails and sea stars that lived so deep under the sea.

From Los Angeles Times

Sunflower sea stars: Federal officials said this week that sunflower sea stars, huge starfish that until recently thrived in the waters of the West Coast, should be protected under the Endangered Species Act.

From New York Times

It killed more than 90 percent of sunflower sea stars from 2013 to 2017, in what officials described as the largest marine wildlife disease outbreak on record.

From New York Times

Here, in the burbling tanks at the University of Washington’s Friday Harbor Labs, these charismatic orange and maroon sea stars are snacking on mussels and dog-piling their siblings.

From Seattle Times

In the oceans, many sea stars, sturgeon and other species are already on the decline.

From Washington Post