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Definition of tardigrade

tardigrade

/ˈtɑːr.dɪ.ɡreɪd/
tar · di · grade
Plural:tardigrades
•
Adjective:tardigradous
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tardigrade Lexical Profile

tardigrade Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A microscopic, eight-legged invertebrate animal of the phylum Tardigrada, found in diverse aquatic and terrestrial environments and renowned for its ability to survive extremely harsh conditions.

Example

"Under the microscope, the students observed a tiny tardigrade lumbering slowly through a drop of pond water."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tardigrade

• Nearby Words

tarawera
tarawera falls
tarcoles
tardigrade
target
tarija
tarija river

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in 1776 by Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani from the Italian 'tardigrado', which traces back to Latin 'tardigradus' meaning 'slow-stepping', formed from 'tardus' (slow) + 'gradi' (to step).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tardigrade. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tardigrade
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