zoophyte Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge

F. zoophyte, Gr. an animal + plant, akin to to be born, to be. See Zodiac, and Be, v. i.

(Zoöl.) (a) Any one of numerous species of invertebrate animals which more or less resemble plants in appearance, or mode of growth, as the corals, gorgonians, sea anemones, hydroids, bryozoans, sponges, etc., especially any of those that form compound colonies having a branched or treelike form, as many corals and hydroids. (b) Any one of the Zoöphyta.