cephalochordate

[ sef-uh-loh-kawr-deyt ]
/ ˌsɛf ə loʊˈkɔr deɪt /

adjective

belonging or pertaining to the Cephalochordata.

noun

any chordate animal of the subphylum Cephalochordata, having fishlike characters but lacking a spinal column, comprising the lancelets.

Origin of cephalochordate

< New Latin Cephalochordata; see cephalo-, chordate

British Dictionary definitions for cephalochordate

cephalochordate
/ (ˌsɛfələʊˈkɔːdeɪt) /

noun

any chordate animal of the subphylum Cephalochordata, having a fishlike body and no vertebral column; a lancelet

adjective

of, relating to, or belonging to the Cephalochordata

Scientific definitions for cephalochordate

cephalochordate
[ sĕf′ə-lə-kôrdāt′ ]

A member of the subphylum Cephalochordata of the phylum Chordata, whose only living species are the lancelets. See more at lancelet. Compare hemichordate.