sea cucumber

noun

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

called also holothurian

Illustration of sea cucumber

Illustration of sea cucumber

Examples of sea cucumber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web City leaders were also exploring mariculture—raising seaweed, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. WIRED, 15 July 2023 City leaders were also exploring mariculture — raising seaweed, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. Julia O'Malley, Anchorage Daily News, 9 July 2023 Amphipods Along with sea cucumbers, tiny flea-like crustaceans known as amphipods are the most abundant animal in the hadal zone. Tree Meinch, Discover Magazine, 27 June 2023 From slimy sea cucumbers to fan-like sea lilies, the mysterious creatures live in complete darkness. Carolyn Hagler, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 June 2023 Go to the Eco-Discovery Center for an introduction to the local marine ecosystem, followed by a trip to the Key West Aquarium, where kids can touch and hold starfish, sea cucumbers, and conches. Elizabeth Preske, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2023 While a melting, shape-shifting robot sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie, the team actually found their inspiration in a marine animal here on Earth: a sea cucumber. Margaret Osborne, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Jan. 2023 This version comes with a lot of seafood — abalone, fish maw, sea cucumber, prawns — along with roasted duck, black moss and more. Janelle Bitker, San Francisco Chronicle, 1 Feb. 2021 Moments such as a blind student’s tactile impressions of a sea cucumber serve as springboards for ruminations on a natural world far bigger and more complicated than any one person’s perception of it. Breanna Draxler, Discover Magazine, 22 Oct. 2013 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sea cucumber.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1841, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of sea cucumber was in 1841

Dictionary Entries Near sea cucumber

Cite this Entry

“Sea cucumber.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20cucumber. Accessed 3 Oct. 2023.

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

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