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Definition of tunicate

tunicate

/ˈtuːnɪkət/
tu · ni · cate
Plural:tunicates
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tunicate Lexical Profile

tunicate Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A marine invertebrate animal of the subphylum Tunicata (such as a sea squirt or salp), characterized by a sac-like body enclosed in a tough outer protective covering.

Example

"During the dive, the marine biologist photographed a vibrant purple tunicate attached to the coral reef."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for tunicate

• Nearby Words

tungsten
tunic
tunica
tunicate
tuning
tunis
tunisia

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'tunicatus' meaning 'clothed with a tunic', from 'tunica' (tunic). The biological sense arose in the mid-19th century, referring to the tough, leathery outer covering (the tunic) that encloses these marine animals or certain botanical structures.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Tunicate. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/tunicate
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