arthropod

ar·thro·pod

noun \ˈär-thrə-ˌpäd\

Definition of ARTHROPOD

: any of a phylum (Arthropoda) of invertebrate animals (as insects, arachnids, and crustaceans) that have a segmented body and jointed appendages, a usually chitinous exoskeleton molted at intervals, and a dorsal anterior brain connected to a ventral chain of ganglia

— arthropod adjective

— ar·throp·o·dan \är-ˈthrä-pə-dən\ adjective

Origin of ARTHROPOD

New Latin Arthropoda, from arthr- + Greek pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use: 1876

Rhymes with ARTHROPOD

accolade, amphipod, bigarade, carbonnade, cattle prod, chiffonade, decapod, defilade, demigod, diplopod, dowsing rod, enfilade, escalade, esplanade, firing squad, flying squad, fusillade, gallopade, gastropod, goldenrod, hexapod, isopod, lightning rod, lycopod, monkeypod, monopod, Novgorod, Novi Sad, octopod, piston rod, promenade, pseudopod, rémoulade, rhizopod, spinning rod, tapenade, tetrapod, theropod, traverse rod

arthropod

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Representative arthropods. Uniramia, the largest of the arthropod subphyla, contains mostly …—© Merriam-Webster Inc.

Any member of the largest phylum, Arthropoda, in the animal kingdom. Arthropoda consists of more than one million known invertebrate species in four subphyla: Uniramia (five classes, including insects), Chelicerata (three classes, including arachnids and horseshoe crabs), Crustacea (crustaceans), and Trilobita (trilobites). All arthropods are bilaterally symmetrical and possess a segmented body covered by an exoskeleton containing chitin, which serves as both armour and a surface for muscle attachment. Each body segment may bear a pair of jointed appendages. The phylum includes carnivores, herbivores, omnivores, detritus feeders, filter feeders, and parasites (see parasitism) in nearly all environments, both aquatic and terrestrial.