Definition, Meaning & Synonyms
medusae
Noun
/mɪˈdjuː.siː/
Definition
Medusae are the free-swimming, umbrella-shaped form of certain cnidarians, such as jellyfish, characterized by their gelatinous bodies and tentacles.
Examples
- The medusae floated gracefully in the water, illuminating the dark ocean with their bioluminescence.
- In their medusae stage, jellyfish can travel vast distances with the currents.
- Some species of medusae can deliver a painful sting to unsuspecting swimmers.
Meaning
The term ‘medusae’ refers to the life stage of jellyfish that is typically seen drifting in the ocean, distinguishable from their fixed, polyp stage.
Synonyms
- jellyfish
- sea nettle
- scyphozoan
