gastropod

(gastrō päd′)

noun

any of a large class (Gastropoda) of mollusks having one-piece, straight or spiral shells, as snails, limpets, etc., or having no shells or greatly reduced shells, as certain slugs: most gastropods move by means of a broad, muscular, ventral foot

Origin: < ModL Gastropoda < gastro- + -pod

Related Forms:

See gastropod in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
Any of various mollusks of the class Gastropoda, such as the snail, slug, cowrie, or limpet, characteristically having a single, usually coiled shell or no shell at all, a ventral muscular foot for locomotion, and eyes and feelers located on a distinct head.
adjective
Of or belonging to the class Gastropoda.

Origin:

Origin: From New Latin Gastropoda, class name

Origin: : gastro-

Origin: + -poda, -pod

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Related Forms:

  • gas·tropˈo·dan (gă-strŏpˈə-dn), gas·tropˈo·dous (-dəs) adjective

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