invertebrate
[ in-vur-tuh-brit, -breyt ]
/ ɪnˈvɜr tə brɪt, -ˌbreɪt /
adjective
Zoology.
- not vertebrate; without a backbone.
- of or relating to creatures without a backbone.
without strength of character.
noun
an invertebrate animal.
a person who lacks strength of character.
Origin of invertebrate
OTHER WORDS FROM invertebrate
in·ver·te·bra·cy [in-vur-tuh-bruh-see] /ɪnˈvɜr tə brə si/, in·ver·te·brate·ness, nounWords nearby invertebrate
inversive,
invert,
invert soap,
invert sugar,
invertase,
invertebrate,
invertebrates,
inverted comma,
inverted mordent,
inverted pleat,
inverted snob
Example sentences from the Web for invertebrates
British Dictionary definitions for invertebrates
invertebrate
/ (ɪnˈvɜːtɪbrɪt, -ˌbreɪt) /
noun
any animal lacking a backbone, including all species not classified as vertebrates
adjective Also: in'vertebral
of, relating to, or designating invertebrates
Medical definitions for invertebrates
invertebrate
[ ĭn-vûr′tə-brĭt, -brāt′ ]
adj.
Lacking a backbone or spinal column; not vertebrate.
Of or relating to invertebrates.
n.
An animal, such as an insect or a mollusk, that lacks a backbone or spinal column.
Scientific definitions for invertebrates
invertebrate
[ ĭn-vûr′tə-brĭt, -brāt′ ]
Adjective
Having no backbone or spinal column.
Noun
An animal that has no backbone or spinal column and therefore does not belong to the subphylum Vertebrata of the phylum Chordata. Most animals are invertebrates. Corals, insects, worms, jellyfish, starfish, and snails are invertebrates.
Cultural definitions for invertebrates
invertebrates
[ (in-vur-tuh-bruhts, in-vur-tuh-brayts) ]
Animals without backbones. (Compare vertebrates.)