comb jelly
- noun
- /koʊm ˈdʒɛli/
- Specialized
:
medusa de peine
- The comb jelly glided gracefully through the water.
- sponges or comb jellies
Examples
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Many comb jellies can be found in the ocean.
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Children at the aquarium marveled at the shimmering comb jelly as it pulsed its cilia.
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The biologist pointed out a comb jelly gliding gracefully through the water.
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Unlike true jellyfish, a comb jelly moves by beating rows of tiny hair-like cilia.
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The comb jelly is a unique marine creature known for its beautiful, transparent body.
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Unlike jellyfish, the comb jelly moves through the water with its eight rows of tiny cilia.
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While observing the ocean, we spotted a comb jelly gracefully gliding through the water.
Synonyms
A sea animal like a jellyfish that swims using rows of tiny hairs
A small round sea animal like a tiny jellyfish that swims using tiny hairs
Surface Forms
Morphology
The noun 'comb jelly' is compositional: 'jelly' signals a gelatinous marine animal and 'comb' describes the comb-like rows of cilia used for movement, so the overall meaning can be inferred from the parts. This modifier+noun pattern and the clear visual image make the term immediately understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
Comb jelly is named for the rows of moving comb-like hairs on its body that beat to make it glide and catch the light so it sparkles. People added jelly because the animal looks soft and see-through like a 'jellyfish'.
