zoophyte

[ zoh-uh-fahyt ]

/ ˈzoʊ əˌfaɪt /

noun

any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant, as a coral or a sea anemone.

Nearby words

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for zoophyte

In complexity, our large civilized nations as much exceed primitive savage tribes, as a vertebrate animal does a zoophyte.
Illustrations of Universal Progress|Herbert Spencer
The little species use the leaves and stems of water-plants; the larger species use seaweed and zoophyte.
The Outline of Science, Vol. 1 (of 4)|J. Arthur Thomson
I suppose in this dark cave, where neither seaweed nor zoophyte exists, there is no such thing.
The Mystery of the Sea|Bram Stoker
Z is a Zoophyte, whose heart's in his head,And whose head's in his turn—rudimentary Z!
Adventures in Criticism|Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch

The sermon was not exactly "Greek" to them, but it was all "zoophyte."
Prisoner for Blasphemy|G. W. [George William] Foote

British Dictionary definitions for zoophyte

zoophyte

/ (ˈzəʊəˌfaɪt) /

noun

any animal resembling a plant, such as a sea anemone

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