tardigrade

[ tahr-di-greyd ]

noun

1. Also called bear animalcule, water bear. any microscopic, chiefly herbivorous invertebrate of the phylum Tardigrada, living in water, on mosses, lichens, etc.

adjective

1. belonging or pertaining to the phylum Tardigrada.
2. slow in pace or movement.

tardigrade

/ ˈtɑːdɪˌɡreɪd /

noun

1. any minute aquatic segmented eight-legged invertebrate of the phylum Tardigrada, related to the arthropods, occurring in soil, ditches, etc Popular namewater bear

adjective

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

tardigrade

/ tär′dĭ-grād′ /

1. Any of various slow-moving, minute invertebrates of the phylum Tardigrada. Tardigrades have a head and four fused body segments, each of which has a pair of stubby legs ending in claws. They live in water, damp moss, flower petals, or sand, and are usually 1 mm (0.04 inches) or less in size. Tardigrades are able to resist extremely low temperature, pressure, and humidity, and go into dormant states for months or years. They are believed to be intermediate in evolutionary development between annelids and arthropods.
2. Also called water bear

Word History and Origins

Origin of tardigrade¹

First recorded in 1615–25, tardigrade is from the Latin word tardigradus slow-paced. See tardy, -grade

Word History and Origins

Origin of tardigrade¹

C17: via Latin tardigradus, from tardus sluggish + gradī to walk

Example Sentences

Ecdysozoans include all the arthropods, including insects, crustaceans, and spiders, as well as tardigrades, and roundworms, or nematodes.

From Science Magazine

At first glance, the microscopic creatures known as tardigrades don't appear that hardy.

From Salon

But she was not finished with the tiny beasts, known as tardigrades.

From New York Times

University of Wyoming researchers have gained further insight into how tardigrades survive extreme conditions and shown that proteins from the microscopic creatures expressed in human cells can slow down molecular processes.

From Science Daily

Although never directly landing anything on the Moon, Israel once had a spacecraft filled with microscopic organisms called tardigrades explode near the Moon, potentially showering it with them.

From Salon