ophiuroid

[ of-ee-yoor-oid, oh-fee- ]

noun

1. any echinoderm of the subclass Ophiuroidea, including brittle stars, basket stars, and others, characterized by elongate arms radiating from the disk.

adjective

1. of or relating to the subclass Ophiuroidea.

Word History and Origins

Origin of ophiuroid¹

1885–90; < New Latin Ophiuroidea the class, equivalent to Ophiur ( a ) the type genus (< Greek ophíoura, feminine of ophíouros serpent-tailed ( ophí ( s ) snake + -ouros adj. derivative of ourá tail)) + -oidea -oidea