annelid

noun

an·​ne·​lid ˈa-nə-ˌlid 

: any of a phylum (Annelida) of usually elongated segmented coelomate invertebrates (such as earthworms and leeches)

annelid adjective

annelidan

ə-ˈne-lə-dən 

a-

adjective or noun

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Found in China's Yangtze Gorge, along with 34 other fossils of the same species, researchers believe Y. spiciformis is related to a group of anthropods that includes crustaceans and millipedes or annelids. —Fox News, 6 Sep. 2019

That is in contradistinction to Cambrian fossils, among which are found representatives of all the main animal groups (annelids, arthropods, brachiopods, chordates, cnidarians, echinoderms, molluscs and so on) that are around today. —The Economist, 7 June 2018

The first saw the emergence of brachiopods and molluscs, the second that of annelids, cnidarians, echinoderms and chordates (a group that includes the vertebrates). —The Economist, 7 June 2018

The new species, Trilobodrilus ellenscrippsae, is a half-millimeter-long annelid, or segmented worm, in the family Dinophilidae. —Deborah Sullivan Brennan, sandiegouniontribune.com, 6 Apr. 2018

Fish diets in the winter are made up primarily of midges and an assortment of small blue-winged olive nymphs and are occasionally supplemented by larger mayflies, annelids, trout eggs, stoneflies, and even caddis larva. —Colorado Parks & Wildlife, The Denver Post, 12 Mar. 2017

These squiggly black annelids, just centimeters long, are one of only two types of animals that live inside glaciers. —Joel Sartore, National Geographic, 21 Jan. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin anellus little ring — more at annulet

First Known Use

1813, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

annelid

noun

an·​ne·​lid ˈan-ᵊl-əd 

ˈan-ə-lid

: any of a phylum of long invertebrate animals that have segments and a body cavity and include the earthworms, leeches, and related forms

annelid adjective