siphonophore

[sahy-fuh-nuh-fawr, -fohr, sahy-fon-uh-]

noun

1. any pelagic hydrozoan of the order Siphonophora, being a floating or swimming colony composed of polyps.

siphonophore

/ saɪˈfɒnə-, ˈsaɪfənəˌfɔː, ˌsaɪfəˈnɒfərəs /

noun

1. any marine colonial hydrozoan of the order Siphonophora, including the Portuguese man-of-war

siphonophore

1. Any of various transparent, often subtly colored marine cnidarians of the order Siphonophora, consisting of a delicate floating or swimming colony of polyplike and medusalike individuals. Siphonophores can reach lengths of 40 m (131 ft), making them longer than blue whales. The Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore.

Other Word Forms

• siphonophorous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphonophore¹

1835–45; < New Latin Siphonophora name of the order < Greek siphōnophór ( os ) tube-carrying (equivalent to siphōno- siphono- + -phóros -phore ) + -a neuter plural noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphonophore¹

C19: from New Latin siphonophora, from Greek siphōnophoros tube-bearing

Example Sentences

Octopus, lanternfish, siphonophores and other motley deep-sea creatures also make the nightly trek to avoid their own predators and to find food—in their case, the other migrators.

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Secretariat building, a siphonophore will perform a sinuous, pulsating dance nightly between 8 and 11 p.m.

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The man-of-war is a species of siphonophore that has tentacles that average 30 feet long but can extend to 100 feet, scientists say.

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A massive siphonophore, a colonial organism related to corals, sea anemones and jellyfish, was discovered by the Falkor’s remote submersible.

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The Falkor’s remote submersible had just spotted a massive siphonophore, a colonial organism related to corals, sea anemones and jellyfish.

Read more on Nature