any extinct marine arthropod of the group Trilobita, abundant in Palaeozoic times, having a segmented exoskeleton divided into three parts
Derived forms
trilobitic (ˌtraɪləˈbɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
C19: from New Latin Trilobītēs, from Greek trilobos having three lobes; see tri-, lobe
trilobite in American English
(ˈtraɪləˌbaɪt)
noun
any of a large class (Trilobita) of extinct marine arthropods having the body divided by two furrows into three parts, found as fossils in Paleozoic rocks
Derived forms
trilobitic (ˌtriloˈbitic) (ˌtraɪloʊˈbɪtɪk)
adjective
Word origin
< ModL Trilobites, Trilobita: see tri-, lobe, -ite1