siphonophora Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun marine colonial hydrozoans
    order Siphonophora.

WordNet

Si`pho*noph"o*ra noun plural
Etymology
NL., fr. Gr. a siphon + to bear.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) An order of pelagic Hydrozoa including species which form complex free-swimming communities composed of numerous zooids of various kinds, some of which act as floats or as swimming organs, others as feeding or nutritive zooids, and others as reproductive zooids. See Illust. under Physallia, and Porpita.

Webster 1913