zooid
[ zoh-oid ]
/ ˈzoʊ ɔɪd /
noun
any organic body or cell capable of spontaneous movement and of an existence more or less apart from or independent of the parent organism.
any animal organism or individual capable of separate existence, and produced by fission, gemmation, or some method other than direct sexual reproduction.
any one of the recognizably distinct individuals or elements of a compound or colonial animallike organism, whether or not detached or detachable.
adjective
Also zo·oi·dal.
pertaining to, resembling, or of the nature of an animal.
Words nearby zooid
Example sentences from the Web for zooid
The asexual stock, after budding off one asexual zooid, elongates again and buds off a second zooid.
The Works of Francis Maitland Balfour, Volume II (of 4) |Francis Maitland BalfourMr. Busk, however, does not know of any gradations now existing between a zooid and an avicularium.
On the Origin of Species |Charles DarwinFrom this bud is developed the first zooid and first serial theca of the colony.
A, Schematic longitudinal section through a zooid and bud of Stylophora digitata.
British Dictionary definitions for zooid
zooid
/ (ˈzəʊɔɪd) /
noun
any independent animal body, such as an individual of a coelenterate colony
a motile cell or body, such as a gamete, produced by an organism
Derived forms of zooid
zooidal, adjectiveMedical definitions for zooid
zooid
[ zō′oid′ ]
n.
An organic cell or organized body that has independent movement within a living organism, especially a motile gamete such as a spermatozoon.
An independent animallike organism produced asexually, as by budding or fission.
One of the distinct individuals forming a colonial animal such as a coral.