[too-ni-kit, -keyt, tyoo-] 
| 1. | Zoology. any sessile marine chordate of the subphylum Tunicata (Urochordata), having a saclike body enclosed in a thick membrane or tunic and two openings or siphons for the ingress and egress of water. |
| 2. | (esp. of the Tunicata) having a tunic or covering. |
| 3. | of or pertaining to the tunicates. |
| 4. | Botany. having or consisting of a series of concentric layers, as a bulb. |
| tu·ni·cate (tōō'nĭ-kĭt, -kāt', tyōō'-) n. Any of various chordate marine animals of the subphylum Tunicata or Urochordata having a cylindrical or globular body enclosed in a tough outer covering and including the sea squirts and salps. adj.
[Latin tunicātus, past participle of tunicāre, to clothe with a tunic, from tunica, tunic; see tunic.] |
tunicate (t 'nĭ-kĭt) Pronunciation Key
Any of various primitive marine chordate animals of the subphylum Tunicata, having a rounded or cylindrical body that is enclosed in a tough outer covering. Tunicates start out life as free-swimming, tadpolelike animals with a notochord (a primitive backbone), but many, such as the sea squirts, lose the notochord and most of their nervous system as adults and become fixed to rocks or other objects. Tunicates often form colonies. |
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