holothurian: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very LowScientific, Academic, Technical
Quick answer
What does “holothurian” mean?
A soft-bodied, elongated marine invertebrate animal.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A soft-bodied, elongated marine invertebrate animal; a sea cucumber.
Any member of the class Holothuroidea, characterised by a leathery skin and a body often shaped like a cucumber, belonging to the phylum Echinodermata.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage; the term is identical in both scientific communities.
Connotations
Purely technical and taxonomic; no regional connotations.
Frequency
Equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “holothurian” in a Sentence
The [adjective] holothurian...Holothurians of the genus [X]...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “holothurian” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The holothurian fauna of the North Sea is poorly documented.
- They observed a holothurian-like shape in the sediment.
American English
- The research focused on holothurian anatomy and physiology.
- A holothurian fossil bed was discovered in the limestone.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in marine biology, zoology, and paleontology papers and textbooks.
Everyday
Virtually never used; 'sea cucumber' is the common term.
Technical
Standard term in taxonomic descriptions, ecological surveys, and scientific keys.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “holothurian”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “holothurian”
- Misspelling as 'holothurion', 'holothurial'.
- Confusing it with other echinoderms like starfish or sea urchins.
- Using it in non-scientific contexts.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, but it's the precise scientific name for an organism belonging to the class Holothuroidea. 'Sea cucumber' is the common name.
Almost certainly not. Unless you are discussing marine biology with experts, you should use 'sea cucumber'.
Yes, both are echinoderms. They share a five-part radial symmetry (often less obvious in holothurians) and a water vascular system.
Yes, many species of sea cucumber (holothurian) are harvested, dried, and known as trepang or bêche-de-mer, and are a delicacy in some Asian cuisines.
A soft-bodied, elongated marine invertebrate animal.
Holothurian is usually scientific, academic, technical in register.
Holothurian: in British English it is pronounced /ˌhɒləˈθjʊərɪən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌhɑːləˈθʊriən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
HOLO (whole) + THURIAN (sounds like 'Thurian', a lost continent). Imagine a WHOLE lost continent populated only by soft, elongated SEA CUCUMBERS.
Conceptual Metaphor
N/A (Highly technical term).
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'holothurian'?