Invertebrate — In*ver te*brate, a. (Zo[ o]l.) Destitute of a backbone; having no vertebr[ae]; of or pertaining to the Invertebrata. n. One of the Invertebrata. [1913 Webster] {Age of invertebrates}. See {Age}, and {Silurian}. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
invertebrate — (n.) 1826, from L. in not (see IN (Cf. in ) (1)) + vertebra joint (see VERTEBRA (Cf. vertebra)). Invertebrata as a biological classification was coined 1805 by French naturalist Georges Léopole Chrétien Frédéric Dagobert, Baron Cuvier (1769 1832) … Etymology dictionary
invertebrate — ► NOUN ▪ an animal having no backbone, such as an arthropod, mollusc, etc. ► ADJECTIVE ▪ relating to such animals … English terms dictionary
invertebrate — [in vʉr′tə brit, in vʉr′təbrāt΄] adj. [ModL invertebratus] 1. not vertebrate; having no backbone, or spinal column 2. of invertebrates 3. having no moral backbone; lacking courage, resolution, etc. n. any animal without a backbone, or spinal… … English World dictionary
Invertebrate — The common fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, has been the subject of much research An invertebrate is an animal without a backbone. The group includes 97% of all animal species[1] – all animals except those in the … Wikipedia
invertebrate — [[t]ɪnvɜ͟ː(r)tɪbrət[/t]] invertebrates N COUNT An invertebrate is a creature that does not have a spine, for example an insect, a worm, or an octopus. [TECHNICAL] ADJ Invertebrate is also an adjective. ...invertebrate creatures … English dictionary
invertebrate — adjective Etymology: New Latin invertebratus, from Latin in + New Latin vertebratus vertebrate Date: 1832 1. lacking a spinal column; also of, relating to, or concerned with invertebrate animals 2. lacking in strength or vitality ; weak •… … New Collegiate Dictionary
invertebrate — invertebracy /in verr teuh breuh see/, invertebrateness, n. /in verr teuh brit, brayt /, adj. 1. Zool. a. not vertebrate; without a backbone. b. of or pertaining to creatures without a backbone. 2. without strength of character. n. 3. an… … Universalium
invertebrate — UK [ɪnˈvɜː(r)tɪbrət] / US [ɪnˈvɜrtəbrət] / US [ɪnˈvɜrtəˌbreɪt] noun [countable] Word forms invertebrate : singular invertebrate plural invertebrates biology a small animal without a backbone, for example an insect or a worm • See: vertebrate … English dictionary
invertebrate — in|ver|te|brate [ınˈvə:tıbrıt, breıt US ə:r ] n a living creature that does not have a ↑backbone →↑vertebrate >invertebrate adj … Dictionary of contemporary English
