Main Entry:

mad·re·pore

Pronunciation:

\ˈma-drə-ˌpȯr\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

French madrépore, from Italian madrepora, from madre mother (from Latin mater) + poro pore (from Latin porus) — more at mother

Date:

1751

: any of various stony reef-building corals (order Madreporaria) of tropical seas that assume a variety of branching, encrusting, or massive forms

— mad·re·po·ri·an \ˌma-drə-ˈpȯr-ē-ən\ adjective or noun

— mad·re·por·ic \-ˈpȯr-ik\ adjective