ectotherm

[ ek-tuh-thurm ]

noun

, Zoology.

1. a cold-blooded animal.

ectotherm

/ ĕk′tə-thûrm′ /

1. A cold-blooded organism.
2. Also called poikilotherm

Other Words From

• ecto·thermic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ectotherm¹

First recorded in 1940–45; ecto- + therm

Example Sentences

"Endotherm and ectotherm vertebrates may process cognitive tasks in fundamentally different ways due to differences in brain organisation," the authors argued.

From Salon

At rest, a bumblebee’s temperature varies, like that of a traditional ectotherm.

From Washington Post

"Doesn't that suggest that there's an adaptive value in being either a good ectotherm or a good endotherm, but not in the middle?"

From BBC

Warming an ectotherm from 15° Celsius to 20° C might not increase metabolic rate much, Dillon says.

From US News