siphonophore

American  

[sahy-fuh-nuh-fawr, -fohr, sahy-fon-uh-] / ˈsaɪ fə nəˌfɔr, -ˌfoʊr, saɪˈfɒn ə- /

noun

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

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siphonophore British  

/ saɪˈfɒnə-, ˈsaɪfənəˌfɔː, ˌsaɪfəˈnɒfərəs /

noun

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

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siphonophore Scientific  

/ sī-fŏn′ə-fôr′,sī′fə-nə- /

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.

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Other Word Forms

• siphonophorous adjective

Etymology

Origin of siphonophore

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