myriapod

noun

myr·​ia·​pod ˈmir-ē-ə-ˌpäd How to pronounce myriapod (audio)
variants or less commonly myriopod
: any of a group (Myriapoda) of arthropods having the body made up of numerous similar segments nearly all of which bear true jointed legs and including the millipedes and centipedes
myriapod adjective
or less commonly myriopod

Examples of myriapod in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Their lack of vision doesn’t make the myriapods any less dangerous. Byjack Tamisiea, science.org, 13 Feb. 2023 Hannah Wood, curator of arachnids and myriapods at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History, authored a new paper in the journal Zookeys describing 18 new species of pelican spider from Madagascar. National Geographic, 11 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Greek myrioi + pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of myriapod was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near myriapod

Cite this Entry

“Myriapod.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/myriapod. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

myriapod

noun
myr·​ia·​pod
variants also myriopod
: any of a group of arthropods including the millipedes and centipedes
myriapod adjective

Medical Definition

myriapod

variant of myriopod

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