comatulid: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very Rare / TechnicalScientific / Technical
Quick answer
What does “comatulid” mean?
A type of free-swimming, stalkless crinoid, commonly known as a feather star.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of free-swimming, stalkless crinoid, commonly known as a feather star.
A member of the order Comatulida, a group of echinoderms characterized by a cup-shaped body with many feathery arms used for feeding and locomotion, found in marine environments.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Usage is identical in both scientific communities.
Connotations
Purely technical, scientific.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in both dialects, confined to specialist contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “comatulid” in a Sentence
The [ADJECTIVE] comatulid [VERB].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “comatulid” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The comatulid specimen was carefully preserved.
- We studied comatulid morphology.
American English
- The comatulid anatomy is fascinating.
- This is a key comatulid characteristic.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in marine biology, zoology, and paleontology papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
The primary domain. Used to describe a specific taxonomic group of echinoderms.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “comatulid”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “comatulid”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “comatulid”
- Mispronunciation (e.g., 'com-a-tool-id'). Confusing it with 'comatose'. Using it in non-scientific contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is an animal, specifically a type of marine echinoderm related to starfish and sea urchins.
It is highly unlikely and would sound very technical. 'Feather star' is the common name.
Comatulids (feather stars) are free-swimming or crawling as adults, while sea lilies are permanently attached to the substrate by a stalk.
They are found in oceans around the world, from shallow reefs to deep-sea environments.
A type of free-swimming, stalkless crinoid, commonly known as a feather star.
Comatulid is usually scientific / technical in register.
Comatulid: in British English it is pronounced /kəʊˈmatjʊlɪd/, and in American English it is pronounced /koʊˈmætʃəlɪd/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a COMAtose sea star that's too TULL (tall) and IDentifies as a feathery creature: COMA-TULL-ID.
Practice
Quiz
In which field is the term 'comatulid' primarily used?