Annelid

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˈænələd/

Definitions

1. A segmented worm with a soft, elongated body divided into ring-like sections, such as earthworms and leeches
2. A type of invertebrate characterized by a long, segmented body that is often found in soil and aquatic environments, including species like earthworms and leeches
3. An invertebrate organism distinguished by its segmented anatomy, typically inhabiting soil or water, and exemplified by earthworms and leeches

Etymology: Jean-Baptiste Lamarck, the French naturalist, gave the group its name. He used the French "annélidé" for these segmented worms, and English took the word from that French form. The name points to the animals' most visible feature: a body built from a row of repeated ring-like segments. The term fits the group's defining design. Earthworms, leeches and their relatives all share a long body divided into similar sections, each with its own set of internal organs repeated along the length of the animal. Lamarck's coinage gathered these worms into one category, separate from the other invertebrates he was classifying.

Synonyms: worm, earthworm, segmented worm, INVALID, INVALID