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Glite Dictionary
🪱 An animal without backbone 🪱 Without backbone
invertebrate

invertebrate

1 4.6
An animal that has no backbone or spinal column
  • adjective
  • /ɪnˈvɜrtəbrɪt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : invertebrado
  • Such chemical effects may have contributed to complex changes (often declines) in invertebrate diversity (Smith et al. 1991).
  • invertebrate species
  • invertebrate assemblages
  • invertebrate predator

This has been proven in mice, hamsters, dogs, fish, invertebrate animals, and even in yeast.

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Examples

  • Reefs also harbor some 800 reef-building coral species and innumerable other invertebrate species.

    Academic text (2005)

  • The garden was full of invertebrate life, including colorful butterflies and busy earthworms.

  • Are there any positive effects of disturbance on invertebrate diversity?

    Academic text (2006)

  • Therefore, many imaging techniques can be directly transferred to invertebrate systems.

    Academic text (2004)

  • The removal of these resources may have a greater influence than direct physical stress on invertebrate assemblages.

    Academic text (2006)

  • Fish community structure, in turn, affects benthic and pelagic invertebrate communities.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Similarly, how will invertebrate populations or communities respond to qualitative, directional changes in habitat?

    Academic text (2002)

  • Unsuitable soil habitats are characterized by low invertebrate diversity, or they may lack nematodes and other invertebrates entirely.

    Academic text (1999)

  • Fruit flies are another short-lived invertebrate organism useful for studying the genetic and molecular bases of aging and longevity.

    Academic text (1992)

  • Before the research trip, they learned about invertebrate species that inhabit freshwater environments.

Synonyms

boneless
vsinvertebrate
12 1.4

Having no bones

means lacking a backbone specifically not just absence of any bones
nonvertebral
vsinvertebrate
  • Specialized
7.8

Relating to animals that do not have a backbone, like jellyfish or starfish

means lacking a backbone specifically rather than general spinal relation

Antonyms

vertebrate
  • Specialized
14 3.8

An animal with a backbone like a fish or bird

Compounds

invertebrate foot
  • Specialized
8.4

A soft body part that animals without backbones use to move or hold on

Surface Forms

invertebrate positive

Morphology

invertebrate = vertebrate (transparent) = in + vertebrate

The adjective is a straightforward negative formation meaning 'not vertebrate' or 'lacking the defining property of vertebrates'.

Etymology

The word invertebrate comes from the parts in- ('not') and vertebra ('the small bones of the spine'), so it describes animals that are 'without a backbone'.