caecilian

noun

cae·​ci·​lian si-ˈsil-yən How to pronounce caecilian (audio)
-ˈsēl-,
-ˈsi-lē-ən
: any of an order (Gymnophiona) of chiefly tropical burrowing limbless amphibians resembling worms
caecilian adjective

Examples of caecilian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zoologists knew something was up with these amphibians, called caecilians, for decades. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2024 Over time, zoologists kept finding examples of baby caecilians feeding on the mucus and skin of their mothers—a strategy quite different from the lay ’em and leave ’em behavior many frogs employ to kick-start the next generation. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 May 2024 Since 1987, his team has been musing about caecilians making milk. Sofia Quaglia, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 Dedicated parents Some caecilians give live birth, but ringed caecilians lay eggs. Popular Science, 7 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for caecilian 

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Latin caecilia slowworm, from caecus blind

First Known Use

1840, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of caecilian was in 1840

Dictionary Entries Near caecilian

Cite this Entry

“Caecilian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/caecilian. Accessed 24 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on caecilian

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!