hemolymph

noun

he·​mo·​lymph ˈhē-mə-ˌlim(p)f How to pronounce hemolymph (audio)
: the circulatory fluid of various invertebrate animals that is functionally comparable to the blood and lymph of vertebrates

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The ants then chew a hole through their children's skin to drink their hemolymph, the insect equivalent of blood. Alison Mackey, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2018 The abundance of antioxidants in the hemolymph may also help tapeworm larvae live as long as their hosts do. Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023 Foitzik and her team found that the tapeworm larvae produce and secrete more than 250 proteins into the hemolymph of the infected ants — enough to make up about 7% of all the circulating proteins. Viviane Callier, Quanta Magazine, 10 Jan. 2023 Female adult varroa mites will crawl on adult honey bees, feeding off of their hemolymph, similar to blood. Monica Cull, Discover Magazine, 29 June 2022 Males with naturally longer phallic accouterment are thought to gain better access to the female’s hemolymph—the insect equivalent of blood, flowing outside her reproductive tract—where their seminal fluids can prime her body for reproduction. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 6 July 2021 To inflate this smelly love balloon, the mantis pumps it full of a fluid called hemolymph, which is a bit like blood for invertebrates. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Apr. 2021 Their equivalent to blood is hemolymph, a mostly clear fluid that contains small amounts of hemocyanin. Quanta Magazine, 22 Apr. 2019 The larvae then inject psychotropic substances into the hemolymph, a blood-like substance in the spider's abdomen. David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, 30 Apr. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hemolymph.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1885, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hemolymph was in 1885

Dictionary Entries Near hemolymph

Cite this Entry

“Hemolymph.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hemolymph. Accessed 30 Mar. 2023.

Medical Definition

hemolymph

noun
he·​mo·​lymph
variants or chiefly British haemolymph
: the circulatory fluid of various invertebrate animals that is functionally comparable to the blood and lymph of vertebrates

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