any anthozoan coelenterate of the subclass Alcyonaria, as corals and sea anemones, having the tentacles and other body parts in branches or segments of eight.
–adjective
2.
belonging or pertaining to the Alcyonaria.
Origin: 1875–80; < NL Alcyonari(a) (< Gk alkyón(ion) a type of coral named from its resemblance to the nest of the kingfisher (alkyn) + L -āria-ary) + -an
[al-see-uh-nair-ee-uh
n] 
n