chordate Hear it!

chordate Definition

chor·date (kôr′dāt′)

noun

any of a phylum (Chordata) of animals having at some stage of development a notochord, gill slits, and a dorsal tubular nerve cord: the phylum includes the vertebrates, tunicates, and lancelets

Etymology: L chorda (see cord) + -ate

chordate Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • primitive: He compares the tube heart of an embryo to that of the primitive chordate, Amphioxus.
  • invertebrate: Studies of living invertebrate chordates have been very important in helping to solve the mystery of ' the origin of the vertebrates ' .