deuterostome: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowAcademic, Technical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “deuterostome” mean?
Any animal belonging to the major group Deuterstomia, characterized by embryonic development where the anus forms first from the blastopore and the mouth forms secondarily.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Any animal belonging to the major group Deuterstomia, characterized by embryonic development where the anus forms first from the blastopore and the mouth forms secondarily.
In evolutionary biology and zoology, a member of the clade that includes chordates (including vertebrates) and echinoderms, distinguished by specific patterns of embryonic development, radial and indeterminate cleavage, and other shared derived characteristics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or spelling. Both varieties use the same technical term.
Connotations
None beyond the strict scientific definition.
Frequency
Identically low frequency; encountered only in specialized academic or scientific texts.
Grammar
How to Use “deuterostome” in a Sentence
[Deuterostome] is a [noun] (e.g., A deuterostome is an animal).[Subject] belong(s) to the deuterostomes.[Subject] is/are classified as a deuterostome.The [feature] of deuterostomes is [description].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “deuterostome” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The deuterostome lineage is a major branch of the animal kingdom.
- They studied deuterostome embryology in detail.
American English
- Deuterostome development follows a distinct pattern.
- This fossil shows potential deuterostome features.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in biology textbooks, research papers, and lectures on animal phylogeny and embryology.
Everyday
Virtually never used.
Technical
Core term in zoological taxonomy and evolutionary developmental biology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “deuterostome”
Strong
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “deuterostome”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “deuterostome”
- Misspelling as 'deuterastome', 'deuterstome', or 'deuterostom'.
- Mispronouncing the first syllable as /djuːˈtɛr/ instead of /ˈdjuːtər/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, humans are chordates, and all chordates belong to the deuterostome lineage.
The primary difference is embryological: in deuterostomes, the blastopore (the first opening in the embryo) becomes the anus, while in protostomes it becomes the mouth.
Major examples include vertebrates (mammals, birds, fish, reptiles, amphibians), other chordates (like lancelets and tunicates), and echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins).
No, it is a highly specialized taxonomic term with no application in everyday language or other academic fields.
Any animal belonging to the major group Deuterstomia, characterized by embryonic development where the anus forms first from the blastopore and the mouth forms secondarily.
Deuterostome is usually academic, technical, scientific in register.
Deuterostome: in British English it is pronounced /ˈdjuːtərəʊstəʊm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈduːtəroʊˌstoʊm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'Deuter-' sounds like 'deuce' or 'second', and '-stome' relates to 'mouth'. Deuterostome = 'second mouth', because the mouth develops second, after the anus.
Conceptual Metaphor
A foundational lineage (branch on the tree of life).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a defining characteristic of a deuterostome?