trilobite

[ trahy-luh-bahyt ]

noun
  1. any marine arthropod of the extinct class Trilobita, from the Paleozoic Era, having a flattened, oval body varying in length from 1 inch (2.5 centimeters) or less to 2 feet (61 centimeters).

Origin of trilobite

1
First recorded in 1825–35; from New Latin Trilobites, equivalent to Greek trílob(os) “three-lobed” + -ītēs noun suffix; see tri-, lobe, -ite1

Other words from trilobite

  • tri·lo·bit·ic [trahy-luh-bit-ik], /ˌtraɪ ləˈbɪt ɪk/, adjective

Words Nearby trilobite

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How to use trilobite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for trilobite

trilobite

/ (ˈtraɪləˌbaɪt) /


noun
  1. any extinct marine arthropod of the group Trilobita, abundant in Palaeozoic times, having a segmented exoskeleton divided into three parts

Origin of trilobite

1
C19: from New Latin Trilobītēs, from Greek trilobos having three lobes; see tri-, lobe

Derived forms of trilobite

  • trilobitic (ˌtraɪləˈbɪtɪk), adjective

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

Scientific definitions for trilobite

trilobite

[ trīlə-bīt′ ]


  1. Any of numerous extinct and mostly small arthropods of the subphylum Trilobita that lived during the Paleozoic Era and are extremely common as fossils. Trilobites had a hard outer covering divided into three lengthwise and three widthwise sections. Their heads had two prominent compound eyes similar in structure to those of modern insects.

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