vertebrate

Pronunciation: /ˈvɛɹ.tɪ.bɹeɪt/

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium
  2. adjective having a backbone or spinal column

Etymology

Adapted borrowing of French vertébré, from Latin vertebrātus (“jointed”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).

In classic literature

Synonyms

craniate

Semantic network

Broader (hypernyms)
chordate
Narrower (hyponyms)
fetus, reptile, mammal, amphibian, amniota, bird

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