actinia

noun

ac·​tin·​ia

ak-ˈti-nē-ə

1

capitalized in some classifications : a genus of sea anemones nearly coextensive with the order Actiniaria

2

plural actiniae

ak-ˈti-nē-ˌē

or actinias : any sea anemone or related animal

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, from Greek aktīn-, aktís "ray, beam" + New Latin -ia -ia entry 1

First Known Use

1752, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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