brittle star

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Explanation of "Brittle Star"

Definition:
A "brittle star" is a type of sea animal that looks similar to a starfish. It has long, thin, and delicate arms that extend from a small, round body in the center, which is called a disc. Brittle stars are known for their fragile arms that can easily break off if they are threatened.

Usage Instructions:

• Part of Speech: Noun
• Plural Form: Brittle stars
• Example Sentence: "We saw a brittle star while snorkeling in the ocean; its long arms were moving gracefully in the water."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced contexts, you might talk about the ecological role of brittle stars in marine environments or their behavior, such as how they use their arms to catch food.

Word Variants:

• Adjective Form: Brittle (describing something that is fragile and easily broken)
  • Example: "The brittle branches of the tree snapped in the cold wind."

Different Meanings:

• Brittle: In addition to describing the star, the word "brittle" can also refer to any material that breaks easily, like glass or certain types of candy.

Synonyms:

• For "brittle": Fragile, delicate, breakable
• For "star" in this context: Asteroid (though this is a different context, as it refers to a celestial body)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "brittle star," the word "brittle" can be used in idiomatic expressions to describe something weak or fragile. - Example Idiom: "Walking on thin ice" can mean being in a dangerous or unstable situation, similar to how "brittle" describes something that can easily break.

Summary:

A "brittle star" is a unique marine creature with delicate arms and a central disc.

Academic

Noun

1. an animal resembling a starfish with fragile whiplike arms radiating from a small central disc

Synonyms

• brittle-star
• serpent star