siphonophore

[ sahy-fuh-nuh-fawr, -fohr, sahy-fon-uh- ]

noun

1. any pelagic hydrozoan of the order Siphonophora, being a floating or swimming colony composed of polyps.

siphonophore

/ saɪˈfɒnə-; ˈsaɪfənəˌfɔː; ˌsaɪfəˈnɒfərəs /

noun

1. any marine colonial hydrozoan of the order Siphonophora, including the Portuguese man-of-war

siphonophore

/ sī-fŏn′ə-fôr′,sī′fə-nə- /

1. Any of various transparent, often subtly colored marine cnidarians of the order Siphonophora, consisting of a delicate floating or swimming colony of polyplike and medusalike individuals. Siphonophores can reach lengths of 40 m (131 ft), making them longer than blue whales. The Portuguese man-of-war is a siphonophore.

Derived Forms

• siphonophorous, adjective

Other Words From

• si·pho·noph·o·rous [sahy-f, uh, -, nof, -er-, uh, s], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphonophore¹

1835–45; < New Latin Siphonophora name of the order < Greek siphōnophór ( os ) tube-carrying (equivalent to siphōno- siphono- + -phóros -phore ) + -a neuter plural noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of siphonophore¹

C19: from New Latin siphonophora, from Greek siphōnophoros tube-bearing

Example Sentences

Octopus, lanternfish, siphonophores and other motley deep-sea creatures also make the nightly trek to avoid their own predators and to find food—in their case, the other migrators.

From Scientific American

Secretariat building, a siphonophore will perform a sinuous, pulsating dance nightly between 8 and 11 p.m.

From New York Times

The man-of-war is a species of siphonophore that has tentacles that average 30 feet long but can extend to 100 feet, scientists say.

From Washington Times

A massive siphonophore, a colonial organism related to corals, sea anemones and jellyfish, was discovered by the Falkor’s remote submersible.

From Nature

The Falkor’s remote submersible had just spotted a massive siphonophore, a colonial organism related to corals, sea anemones and jellyfish.

From Nature