cnidarianadj.n.
/(k)nɪˈdɛːrɪən/, /(k)nʌɪˈdɛːrɪən/, U.S. /naɪˈdɛriən/ Zoology.
A. adj.
Of, relating to, or possessing nematocysts; spec. of or relating to the group Cnidaria.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Diploblastica > phylum Coelenterata > [adjective]
coelenterate1858
cnidarian1890
1890 Cent. Dict. Nematocystic, pertaining to or having the characters of a nematocyst; cnidarian.
1900 School Rev. 8 173 Coming to Cnidarian Cœlenterates, we use Hydra, both alive and in balsam preparations.
1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 12 314 The behavioural implications of cnidarian symbioses..are all virtually unsolved at present.
1995 C. Nielsen Animal Evol. vii. 47 This variation can be observed within many phyla, and the variation can even be observed within each of the major cnidarian classes.
B. n.
An animal of the group Cnidaria.See note at Cnidaria n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > animals > invertebrates > subkingdom Metazoa > grade Diploblastica > phylum Coelenterata > [noun] > member of
coelenterate1873
medusan1890
medusian1890
cnidarian1894
1894 Proc. Amer. Philos. Soc. 33 74 It has been seen in the eggs of Cnidarians.
1935 Jrnl. Paleontol. 9 83/1 They [sc. planktonic fossils] consist of the multitude of graptolites, small sponges, rare fleshy cnidarians, minute brachiopods, [etc.].
1967 Oceanogr. & Marine Biol. 12 292 As advanced cnidarians, sea anemones are essentially sedentary predators.
2004 R. Dawkins Ancestor's Tale 464 Cnidarians also include the most dangerously venomous animals in the world, the extreme example being the box jellyfish.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1890