Zoophyte
//ˈzəʊəfaɪt// noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones. historical
- 2 any of various invertebrate animals resembling a plant such as a sea anemone or coral or sponge wordnet
- 3 A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb. historical
"And besides, as there are many Zoophyts, and sensitive Plants […] so have we, in some Authors, Instances of Plants turning into Animals, and Animals into Plants, and the like […]"
Example
More examples"And besides, as there are many Zoophyts, and sensitive Plants […] so have we, in some Authors, Instances of Plants turning into Animals, and Animals into Plants, and the like […]"
Etymology
From zoo- + -phyte, after Middle French zoophyte; later reinforced by scientific Latin Zoophyta.
Related phrases
More for "zoophyte"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.