sea cucumber

noun

: any of a class (Holothurioidea) of echinoderms having a tough muscular elongated body with tentacles surrounding the mouth

called also holothurian

Illustration of sea cucumber

Examples of sea cucumber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Between the waves, locals can be seen taking lungfuls of air before diving under the surface to search for sea cucumbers or perhaps another haul of 9th-century Tang treasure like the one found in 1998. — Claire Turrell, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026

Monkeys, tigers, exotic birds destined for the pet trade or as trophies, reptiles and sea cucumbers prized for food and medicine all pass through the region's airports and border crossings, according to officials with the network. — John Donegan Long Beach Post, Arkansas Online, 15 Sep. 2026

Most aquatic animals swim but some also walk (crabs), jump (like a squirting scallop), and crawl (starfish, sea cucumbers). — Literary Hub, 22 June 2026

Feeding and living on the carcasses were myriad creatures, large and small, including sea cucumbers, squat lobsters and saltwater clams. — Adithi Ramakrishnan, Los Angeles Times, 14 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sea cucumber

noun

: any of a class of invertebrate sea animals that are echinoderms with a long tough flexible muscular body resembling a cucumber and having tentacles surrounding the mouth at one end