sea urchin

noun

1. any echinoderm of the class Echinoidea, having a somewhat globular or discoid form, and a shell composed of many calcareous plates covered with projecting spines.

2. a tall evergreen shrub or small tree, Hakea laurina, of Australia, having narrow leaves and dense, globe-shaped clusters of crimson flowers with long yellow stamens.

sea urchin

noun

1. any echinoderm of the class Echinoidea, such as Echinus esculentus ( edible sea urchin ), typically having a globular body enclosed in a rigid spiny test and occurring in shallow marine waters

Word History and Origins

Origin of sea urchin¹

First recorded in 1585–95

Example Sentences

But when wasting disease in effect wiped out their main predator, the sea urchins exploded in number, decimating kelp forests and transforming once-lush underwater habitats into so-called urchin barrens.

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One of their most important roles is controlling purple sea urchin populations, a species with a notoriously voracious appetite.

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Massara, an Italian restaurant in New York City, even serves a cold pasta: a chilled spaghetti with red prawn and briny, decadent sea urchin.

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The tribalistic Bay Boys deserve sea urchin spikes jammed into their toes.

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I dreamed of preparing sea urchins with a “sous chef” boyfriend; he didn’t cook, and his palate was from the kids menu.

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