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zoophyte

[zoh-uh-fahyt]
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noun
  1. any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant, as a coral or a sea anemone.
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Origin of zoophyte

1615–25; < New Latin zōophyton < Greek zōióphyton. See zoo-, -phyte
Related formszo·o·phyt·ic [zoh-uh-fit-ik] /ˌzoʊ əˈfɪt ɪk/, zo·o·phyt·i·cal, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for zoophyte

Historical Examples

  • They consist of a cluster of rocks, formed by the zoophyte, or coral worm.

    Frank Mildmay

    Captain Frederick Marryat

  • The sermon was not exactly "Greek" to them, but it was all "zoophyte."

    Prisoner for Blasphemy

    G. W. [George William] Foote

  • This bivalve is only known to inhabit the Indian Ocean, where it fixes itself to a zoophyte, known by the name Gorgonia.

  • In complexity, our large civilized nations as much exceed primitive savage tribes, as a mammal does a zoophyte.

  • The little species use the leaves and stems of water-plants; the larger species use seaweed and zoophyte.

British Dictionary definitions for zoophyte

zoophyte

noun
  1. any animal resembling a plant, such as a sea anemone
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Derived Formszoophytic (ˌzəʊəˈfɪtɪk) or zoophytical, 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