endostyle

noun

en·​do·​style ˈen-dō-ˌstī(-ə)l How to pronounce endostyle (audio)
: a pair of parallel longitudinal folds projecting into the pharyngeal cavity in lower chordates (such as the tunicates) that secrete mucus for trapping food particles

Examples of endostyle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike spiders that spin their feeding webs, these grazers have a special organ, called an endostyle, that secretes their mucous mesh. Kelly Sutherland, Smithsonian, 3 May 2018

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary end- + Greek stylos pillar — more at steer

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of endostyle was in 1854

Dictionary Entries Near endostyle

Cite this Entry

“Endostyle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/endostyle. Accessed 23 Dec. 2024.

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