Word Study
starfish
CIDE DICTIONARY
starfish, n.
- Any one of numerous species of echinoderms belonging to the class
Asterioidea , in which the body is star-shaped and usually has five rays, though the number of rays varies from five to forty or more. The rays are often long, but are sometimes so short as to appear only as angles to the disklike body. Called alsosea star ,five-finger , andstellerid . [1913 Webster]" The ophiuroids are also sometimes called starfishes. SeeBrittle star , andOphiuroidea ." [1913 Webster] - The dollar fish, or butterfish. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
starfish, n. an echinoderm of the class Asteroidea with five or more radiating arms.
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