zoophyte

See also: zoöphyte

English

Alternative forms

• zoöphyte
• zoophite
• zoöphite

Etymology

From zoo- +‎ -phyte, after (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Middle French zoophyte; later reinforced by scientific Latin Zoophyta.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈzəʊəfaɪt/, /ˈzuːfaɪt/

Noun

zoophyte (plural zoophytes)

1. (biology, now historical) An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones. [from 17th c.]
2. (biology, now historical) A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb. [from 17th c.]
   • 1665, Robert Hooke, Micrographia, XIX:

     And besides, as there are many Zoophyts, and sensitive Plants […] so have we, in some Authors, Instances of Plants turning into Animals, and Animals into Plants, and the like […].

Derived terms

• zoophytal
• zoophytic
• zoophytical
• zoophytish
• zoophytist
• zoophytography
• zoophytoid
• zoophytological
• zoophytologist
• zoophytology

 

Translations

invertebrate animal which resembles plants

• Finnish: zoofyytti
• Ido: zoofito (io)
• Irish: zóifít f
• Italian: zoofito m
• (deprecated template usage) {{trans-mid}}
• Malay: zoofit
• Polish: zwierzokrzew m
• Spanish: zoófito (es)