external gill
- noun
- Specialized
:
branquia externa
- Does the axolotl reabsorb its external gills and grow lungs?
Examples
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The axolotl retains its external gills throughout its life, allowing it to breathe underwater.
-
In many amphibian larvae, external gills are essential for respiration until they develop lungs.
-
The scientist observed the external gills of the tadpole as it swam through the aquarium.
Synonyms
A bright, branching hornlike part on the back of some sea slugs that the animal uses to breathe underwater
A thin part like a leaf on young water insects that helps them breathe in water
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning 'a gill that projects outward from the body' is directly and transparently derived from combining 'external' (outside) with 'gill' (breathing organ). This follows a standard adjective+noun compositional pattern, which is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents can readily infer the MWE meaning.
Etymology
External gill is a gill that is external. It sticks out from the body like a feathery branch on a tadpole or young salamander and helps the animal 'breathe' in water, so the term means a gill that sticks out and is easy to see.
