Word
vertebrate
Phoneticsver·te·brate
US/ˈvɝtəˌbɹeɪt/
UK/vˈɜːtɪbɹˌeɪt/
Definition
n. an animal that has a backbone or a spine. This includes most large animals like humans, dogs, and fish.
n. an animal possessing a backbone or spinal column. The term refers to the presence of a central nervous system enclosed within a series of bony or cartilaginous vertebrae.
Examples
“Humans are vertebrates with a backbone.”
“The scientist studied the development of the nervous system in various vertebrates to understand evolutionary patterns.”
“While invertebrates lack a backbone, vertebrates represent a significant evolutionary leap that provides structural support and protection for the spinal cord.”
Examples
simple
“Humans are vertebrates with a backbone.”
contextual
“The scientist studied the development of the nervous system in various vertebrates to understand evolutionary patterns.”
complex
“While invertebrates lack a backbone, vertebrates represent a significant evolutionary leap that provides structural support and protection for the spinal cord.”
Real-World Examples
“Mate choice is influenced by scent in many other vertebrate species, and MHC has a role .” “Because these frogs are so difficult to find and observe, diamond frogs remain among the least studied vertebrates in Madagascar.” Etymology
Adapted borrowing of French vertébré, from Latin vertebrātus (“jointed”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix) for more).
From the substantivization of the above adjective through the associated taxon's name (Vertebrata) (see -ate (noun-forming suffix) for more).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/vertebrate