metazoan

Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary

Contents 1 English 1.1 Etymology 1.2 Noun 1.3 Adjective 1.3.1 Synonyms 1.4 Related terms

[edit] English

[edit] Etymology

Metazoa +‎ -an

[edit] Noun

metazoan (plural metazoans)

1. (zoology) Any animal that undergoes development from an embryo stage with three tissue layers, namely the ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. The term applies to all animals except the sponges.

[edit] Adjective

metazoan (not comparable)

1. Having to do with animals that develop from an embryo with three tissue layers.

[edit] Synonyms

• metazoic

[edit] Related terms

• parazoan