protochordate

[ proh-toh-kawr-deyt ]
/ ˌproʊ toʊˈkɔr deɪt /

noun Zoology.

any of the nonvertebrate chordates, as the tunicates, cephalochordates, and hemichordates.

Origin of protochordate

1890–95; < New Latin Protochordata name of the group; see proto-, chordate

Words nearby protochordate

proto-norse, proto-oncogene, protoactinium, protoavis, protocal, protochordate, protocol, protocols, protocontinent, protoctist, protoctista

British Dictionary definitions for protochordate

protochordate
/ (ˌprəʊtəʊˈkɔːdeɪt) /

noun

any chordate animal of the subphyla Hemichordata (acorn worms), Urochordata (tunicates), and Cephalochordata (lancelets)

adjective

of or relating to protochordates