isopod

[ ahy-suh-pod ]

noun

1. any freshwater, marine, or terrestrial crustacean of the order or suborder Isopoda, having seven pairs of legs typically adapted for crawling, and a dorsoventrally flattened body, and including wood lice, several aquatic parasites of crabs and shrimps, and numerous swimming or bottom-dwelling species.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the Isopoda.
2. having the feet all alike, or similar in character.

isopod

/ ˈaɪsəʊˌpɒd; aɪˈsɒpədən /

noun

1. any crustacean of the order Isopoda, including woodlice and pill bugs, in which the body is flattened dorsoventrally

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Isopoda

isopod

/ ī′sə-pŏd′ /

1. Any of numerous mostly small crustaceans of the order Isopoda, characterized by a flattened body usually bearing seven pairs of legs. Isopods include the sow bugs, pill bugs, and gribbles.

Derived Forms

• isopodan, adjective

Other Words From

• i·sop·o·dan [ahy-, sop, -, uh, -dn], adjective noun
• i·sopo·dous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of isopod¹

From the New Latin word Isopoda, dating back to 1825–35. See iso-, -pod

Example Sentences

The roughly 3-millimeter-long isopod is one of only 15 species from the genus Gnathia currently known in the region, the team wrote in the study.

From Seattle Times

It also hosts strange creatures, such as glass sponges and isopods—translucent, alien-looking animals that have inhabited Earth for hundreds of millions of years.

From Scientific American

The restaurant steams the isopod for 10 minutes before adding it to the top of a bowl of ramen with thick chicken and fish broth.

From Reuters

A new species of giant deep-sea isopod—a cousin to the common pill bug but more than 10 inches long—was found hiding in plain sight.

From Scientific American

The waves were close to swallowing up whatever was left of the shark, the remains of muscle and organs that were already being picked apart by isopods.

From Literature