brittle-star

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Word: Brittle-star

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: A brittle-star is a type of marine animal that looks similar to a starfish. However, instead of thick arms, it has long, thin, and fragile arms that can easily break off. These arms extend from a small central body, or disc, and they help the brittle-star move and catch food.

Usage Instructions:

• General Use: You can use "brittle-star" when talking about marine life, especially when discussing creatures that live in the ocean and have a star-like shape.
• Context: It is often used in scientific discussions or when learning about different types of sea animals.

Example Sentence:

• "While snorkeling, I saw a beautiful brittle-star hiding among the coral."

Advanced Usage:

In more advanced discussions, you may refer to brittle-stars in the context of marine biology or ecology, discussing their role in the ocean ecosystem or their behavior.

Word Variants:

• Brittle-starred (adjective): Describing something that has characteristics of a brittle-star.
  • Example: "The brittle-starred creature moved gracefully among the rocks."

Different Meanings:

• "Brittle" can refer to anything that is easily broken or fragile, not just animals. For example, "The brittle glass shattered when it fell."

Synonyms:

• There are no direct synonyms for "brittle-star," but you can describe it using terms like:
  • "Echinoderm" (the class of marine animals that includes starfish and brittle-stars)
  • "Starfish" (although not the same, it is related)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs related to "brittle-star." However, you may encounter phrases involving "brittle," such as: - "Brittle temperament" (referring to someone who is easily upset or fragile emotionally).

Summary:

A brittle-star is a delicate sea creature resembling a starfish, with long, fragile arms. It is a fascinating subject in marine biology and is important for understanding ocean life.

Academic

Noun

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

Synonyms

• brittle star
• serpent star