[brey-kee-uh-pod, brak-ee-] 
| 1. | any mollusklike, marine animal of the phylum Brachiopoda, having a dorsal and ventral shell; a lamp shell. |
| 2. | Also, bra⋅chi⋅op⋅o⋅dous [brey-kee-op-uh-duh s, brak-ee] . belonging or pertaining to the Brachiopoda. |
| brachiopod (brā'kē-ə-pŏd') Pronunciation Key
Any of various marine invertebrate animals of the phylum Brachiopoda that resemble clams. Brachiopods have paired upper and lower shells attached to a usually stationary stalk and hollow tentacles covered with cilia that sweep food particles into the mouth. Brachiopods are probably related to the phoronids and bryozoans, and were extremely abundant throughout the Paleozoic Era. |