Meanings
nounamphioxus (plural amphioxi or amphioxuses)
plural amphioxi · plural amphioxuses
- The lancelet, particularly of the genus Branchiostoma.
Synonyms & antonyms
nounsmall translucent lancet-shaped burrowing marine animal; primitive forerunner of the vertebrates
Similar
Broader
Also see
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Ancient Greekὀξύς“sharp, keen”
- Ancient Greekἀμφί“both”
- Englishamphioxus
From Ancient Greek ἀμφί (amphí, “both”) + Ancient Greek ὀξύς (oxús, “sharp, keen”).
More words from Ancient Greek
Full word history & related roots →Cite this entry
APA
amphioxus. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphioxus
MLA
“amphioxus.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphioxus. Accessed November 2, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amphioxus,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphioxus.
Source: amphioxus on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.