Vertebrate

Pronunciation: /ˈvɜrtəbrət/

Definitions of vertebrate

noun an animal of a large group distinguished by the possession of a backbone or spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish

Example Sentences

A1 A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone.

A2 Most mammals are vertebrates.

B1 Birds, reptiles, and amphibians are all examples of vertebrates.

B2 The study of vertebrate anatomy is complex and fascinating.

C1 Vertebrates have evolved over millions of years to adapt to their environments.

C2 The classification of vertebrates is constantly being updated as new species are discovered.

Examples of vertebrate in a Sentence

formal A vertebrate is an animal with a backbone or spinal column.

informal My favorite type of animal is a vertebrate because they have a backbone like us.

slang Check out that cool vertebrate over there, it's so interesting!

figurative Being a vertebrate in a world full of invertebrates can sometimes feel like standing out from the crowd.

Grammatical Forms of vertebrate

• past tense: vertebrated
• plural: vertebrates
• comparative: more vertebrate
• superlative: most vertebrate
• present tense: vertebrates
• future tense: will vertebrate
• perfect tense: have vertebrated
• continuous tense: is vertebrating
• singular: vertebrate
• positive degree: vertebrate
• infinitive: to vertebrate
• gerund: vertebrating
• participle: vertebrated

Origin and Evolution of vertebrate

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'vertebrate' originated from the Latin word 'vertebratus' which means jointed or segmented.

Evolution of the word: The term 'vertebrate' was first used in the 17th century to refer to animals with a backbone or spinal column. Over time, the definition has expanded to include animals with a notochord or spinal cord, reflecting advancements in scientific understanding of classification and anatomy.