polychaete

American  

[pol-i-keet] / ˈpɒl ɪˌkit /

noun

1. any annelid of the class Polychaeta, having unsegmented swimming appendages with many setae or bristles.

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adjective

1. Also polychaetous. belonging or pertaining to the Polychaeta.

polychaete British  

/ ˈpɒlɪˌkiːt /

noun

1. any marine annelid worm of the class Polychaeta, having a distinct head and paired fleshy appendages (parapodia) that bear bristles (chaetae or setae) and are used in swimming: includes the lugworms, ragworms, and sea mice

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the class Polychaeta

polychaete Scientific  

/ pŏl′ĭ-kēt′ /

1. Any of various often brightly colored annelid worms of the class Polychaeta. Each segment of a polychaete has a pair of fleshy appendages that are tipped with bristles (setae), used for swimming or burrowing. Most species of polychaetes live in saltwater, feed on tiny aquatic animals and plants, and range in size from a few millimeters to 3 m (10 ft) in length.

2. Compare oligochaete

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Etymology

Origin of polychaete

1885–90; < New Latin Polychaeta < Greek polychaítēs having much hair. See poly-, chaeta

Example Sentences

So what does this polychaete do with its walloping peepers after dark?

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2024

Chlorocruorin, a green-colored, iron-containing pigment is found in four families of polychaete tubeworms.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

An unprotected clutch would prove an easy snack for predators like starfish, polychaete worms and sea spiders, Dr. Cheng said.

From New York Times • Jan. 13, 2022

But this is not the route Ramisyllis and many other syllid polychaete worms took.

From Scientific American • Aug. 8, 2021

That low-energy environment is home to polychaete worms, crustaceans, sponges, sea cucumbers, starfish, brittlestars, sea urchins and various deep-sea fish, as well as countless microbial species and tiny sediment-dwelling creatures.

From Nature • Jul. 23, 2019