Nudibranchia

plural noun

Nu·​di·​bran·​chia

: a suborder of Opisthobranchia comprising numerous highly varied marine gastropod mollusks lacking a shell in the adult state and without true ctenidia and typically having a body suggesting that of a slug usually with brightly colored often branching respiratory cerata on the back

nudibranchian

¦⸗⸗¦braŋkēən

adjective

nudibranchiate

-ēə̇t

-ēˌāt

adjective or noun

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from nudi- + -branchia

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!