siphonophore
noun
si·pho·no·phore
sī-ˈfä-nə-ˌfȯr 
ˈsī-fə-nə-
: any of an order (Siphonophora) of colonial, free-swimming or floating, marine hydrozoans (such as the Portuguese man-of-war) that are mostly delicate, transparent, and colored and have zooids possessing specialized functions (such as feeding or locomotion)
… startling brilliance is often seen among siphonophores, gelatinous colonial animals whose different members work in unison.—
William J. Broad
William J. BroadMost siphonophores are small, transparent creatures of the open sea. They float at the surface among the plankton or swim actively, usually at shallow depths. As carnivores, they capture small planktonic animals in their net of tentacles.—Stephen Jay Gould
Stephen Jay GouldExamples of siphonophore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Bioluminescence is commonly spotted among fish, squid and gelatinous zooplankton, such as jellyfish, siphonophores, comb jellies, and other animals that are mostly made of water.
—Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Unlike most animals that grow as a single entity, this siphonophore is a composite of thousands of cloned bodies, each specialized for different tasks.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
The woolly siphonophores arrange themselves in much the same structure as the giant siphonophores, with both species sharing a similar float and a similar stem.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
That said, the majority of siphonophores stick to the open ocean, with longer siphonophores drifting in deeper waters than shorter siphonophores, since powerful currents close to the surface can shred siphonophore colonies apart.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for siphonophore 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024
Unlike most animals that grow as a single entity, this siphonophore is a composite of thousands of cloned bodies, each specialized for different tasks.
—Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 1 Mar. 2024
The woolly siphonophores arrange themselves in much the same structure as the giant siphonophores, with both species sharing a similar float and a similar stem.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
That said, the majority of siphonophores stick to the open ocean, with longer siphonophores drifting in deeper waters than shorter siphonophores, since powerful currents close to the surface can shred siphonophore colonies apart.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 28 Aug. 2023
See all Example Sentences for siphonophore
Dictionary Entries Near siphonophore
Cite this Entry
“Siphonophore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/siphonophore. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
siphonophore
noun
si·pho·no·phore
sī-ˈfän-ə-ˌfō(ə)r
ˈsī-fə-nə-
ˈsī-fə-nə-
-ˌfȯ(ə)r
: any of an order (Siphonophora) of compound free-swimming or floating pelagic hydrozoans see portuguese man-of-war
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share