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Glite Dictionary
sea squirt

sea squirt

7.9
A small sea animal that sticks to rocks and pushes out water when touched
  • noun
  • /si skwɜrt/
translation icon : ascidia
  • also known as sea squirts

Examples

  • Like the sea squirt, it can reproduce asexually.

    Joy of Sex (1984)

  • The sea squirt attaches itself to rocks and expels water when disturbed.

  • Researchers observed that the sea squirt can contract its body to release water.

  • When touched, the sea squirt ejects water forcefully as a defense mechanism.

Surface Forms

sea squirt singular
sea squirts plural

Morphology

sea + squirt

The compound is compositionally transparent: 'sea' (marine) modifies 'squirt' (something that squirts or expels liquid), so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer a sea-dwelling thing that squirts water. This follows a regular modifier+head noun pattern rather than an idiomatic shift, so the meaning is readily derivable from the parts.

Etymology

Sea squirt The name sea squirt comes from a simple image: a small sea creature and the word squirt. These animals stick to rocks and push out water when touched, so 'sea squirt' today means that small sea animal that squirts water.