Ostracoda

plural noun

Os·​tra·​co·​da

ˌästrəˈkōdə,

äˈstrakədə

: a subclass of crustacea comprising small active mostly freshwater forms having the body enclosed in a bivalve shell composed of right and left valves, the body segmentation obscured, the abdomen rudimentary, and only seven pairs of appendages

ostracodan

-dᵊn

adjective

ostracodous

-dəs

adjective

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Greek ostrakōdēs testaceous, from ostrakon potsherd, shell

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!