# aboral

CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aboral
Updated: 2026-05-18

## Definition

describing the side of an animal that is opposite to where it attaches to the ground or a surface. It is the part of the body that faces upward or away from the bottom.

For teachers: relating to the side of an organism that is opposite to the side attached to a substrate or the ground. In echinoderms, it refers to the upper surface relative to the oral surface.

## Examples

- The sea star has a rough aboral surface.
- Biologists observed that the aboral side of the creature was covered in small, protective spines.
- The aboral surface of the echinoderm is typically more complex and textured than the oral side, which is adapted for feeding and sensory perception.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.