madrepore /madˈri-pōr, -pör/ noun A coral (genus Madrepora) of the common reef-building type, occurring esp in tropical seas ORIGIN: Ital madrepora from madre mother, from L māter, and Gr pōros a soft stone, stalactite, etc, or L porus a pore madreporic /-porˈik/ or madreporitˈic adjective madˈreporite or madreporic plate noun In echinoderms, a perforated plate serving as opening to the stone canal |