cteno·phore
ˈte-nə-ˌfȯr 
ˈtē-
ˈtē-
: any of a phylum (Ctenophora) of marine animals superficially resembling jellyfishes but having biradial symmetry and swimming by means of eight bands of transverse ciliated plates
called also comb jelly
Cte·noph·o·ra
tə-ˈnä-fə-rə
: a small phylum sometimes especially formerly considered a class of Coelenterata and consisting of widely distributed and at times very abundant marine hermaphroditic solitary animals that superficially resemble jellyfishes, are usually more or less ellipsoidal with decided biradial symmetry, and swim by means of eight meridional bands of transverse ciliated plates, each plate representing a row of large modified cilia compare nuda , tentaculata , comb sense 4c; venus's-girdle
ctenophoral
adjective
tə-ˈnä-fə-rəl
ctenophoric
adjective
¦te-nə-¦fȯr-ik
ctenophorous
adjective
tə-ˈnä-fə-rəs
Examples of ctenophore in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
As with the jellyfish and ctenophores, many of these lose their transparency at depth, becoming red over at least part of their bodies.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Some of these species came from early animal lineages, like the ctenophores, the poriferans, the placozoans, and the cnidarians.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025
Going Deep Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are voracious predators in fragile bodies.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 20 Oct. 2024
Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are transparent creatures that are not closely related to jellyfish, despite their name.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are marine invertebrates with squishy bodies propelled by hair-like cilia.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2024
If the common ancestor lacked neurons, and neurons in most animals arose after ctenophores and sponges had already branched off, then the neurons in ctenophores must have evolved independently.
—Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
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Noun
The evolutionary debut of cnidarians and ctenophores thus represented one of the most significant steps in the journey from primordial slime to humans.
—Quanta Magazine, 8 Oct. 2025
As with the jellyfish and ctenophores, many of these lose their transparency at depth, becoming red over at least part of their bodies.
—Literary Hub, 25 Sep. 2025
Some of these species came from early animal lineages, like the ctenophores, the poriferans, the placozoans, and the cnidarians.
—Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 7 May 2025
Going Deep Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are voracious predators in fragile bodies.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, WIRED, 20 Oct. 2024
Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are transparent creatures that are not closely related to jellyfish, despite their name.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 17 Oct. 2024
Comb jellies, or ctenophores, are marine invertebrates with squishy bodies propelled by hair-like cilia.
—Michael Irving, New Atlas, 9 Oct. 2024
If the common ancestor lacked neurons, and neurons in most animals arose after ctenophores and sponges had already branched off, then the neurons in ctenophores must have evolved independently.
—Cara Giovanetti, Scientific American, 4 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Ctenophore.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ctenophore. Accessed 14 Jun. 2026.
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