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sea urchin
noun
: any of numerous echinoderms (class Echinoidea) that are usually enclosed in thin brittle globular tests covered with movable spines
Examples of sea urchin in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Fresh sea urchin and a delicious fava dip of split peas, bonito, and capers followed it.
—Jessica Vadillo, Travel + Leisure, 11 June 2024
Scientists have been using sea urchins to study cell development for roughly 150 years.
—Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 29 May 2024
There was no pineapple at our lunch, but there were other delights (Grey turns out to be partial to sea urchin).
—Michael Paulson Dana Scruggs, New York Times, 15 May 2024
Sea otters kept herbivorous sea urchins in check; without the predators, urchins overgrazed and wiped out the entire suite of kelp-dependent species.
—Lesley Evans Ogden, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 May 2024
See all Example Sentences for sea urchin
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sea urchin.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1591, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Sea urchin.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sea%20urchin. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.
Kids Definition
sea urchin
noun
: any of a class of small marine invertebrate animals that are echinoderms, usually live on or burrow in the sea bottom, and are enclosed in roundish shells covered with spines that can move
More from Merriam-Webster on sea urchin
Nglish: Translation of sea urchin for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about sea urchin
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