What does "tunicate" mean?
Any of very many chordate marine animals, of the subphyla Tunicata or Urochordata, including the sea squirts.
Tunicate
adj, noun
adj, noun ·3 syllables ·Rare ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any of very many chordate marine animals, of the subphyla Tunicata or Urochordata, including the sea squirts.
- Grammar: tunicate is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: urochordate, larvacean, sea squirt, tunic-bearing.
- Useful contrasts: non tunicate, vertebrate.
- Usage evidence: This tunicate withered hag the Señora had my financial number.
How to use "tunicate"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "tunicate" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "tunicate" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "tunicate" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "tunicate" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
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- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "tunicate" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "urochordate" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any of very many chordate marine animals, of the subphyla Tunicata or Urochordata, including the sea squirts.
- 2 primitive marine animal having a saclike unsegmented body and a urochord that is conspicuous in the larva wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of or pertaining to Tunicata or Urochordata. not-comparable
- 2 Enclosed in a tunic or mantle; covered or coated with layers. not-comparable
"This tunicate withered hag the Señora had my financial number."
- 3 Having each joint buried in the preceding funnel-shaped one, as in certain antennae of insects. not-comparable
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
non tunicatevertebrate
Example
"This tunicate withered hag the Señora had my financial number."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "tunicate"?
Common synonyms include: urochordate, larvacean, sea squirt, tunic-bearing, tunical, tunicate group.
How do you use "tunicate" in a sentence?
This tunicate withered hag the Señora had my financial number.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From translingual Tunicata + -ate (noun-forming suffix). Further from Latin tunicātus, perfect passive participle of tunicō (“to clothe with a tunic”).
Etymology 2
Rebracketing of tunicate on the basis of -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
Etymology 3
Borrowed from Latin tunicātus, see Etymology 1 and -ate (adjective-forming suffix).