polychete

P3O1L1Y4C3H4E1T1E1

noun

Any of many annelid worms, of the class Polychaeta, such as the lugworm; they have a segmented body with pairs of bristles on each segment.

Similar
polychaetepolychaete wormpolychete worm
OriginAncient Greek πολύς →
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

nounpolychete (plural polychetes)

plural polychetes · alternative polychaete

  1. Any of many annelid worms, of the class Polychaeta, such as the lugworm; they have a segmented body with pairs of bristles on each segment.

Synonyms & antonyms

nounchiefly marine annelids possessing both sexes and having paired appendages (parapodia) bearing bristles

Similar
polychaetepolychaete wormpolychete worm
Broader
annelidannelid wormsegmented worm
Also see
bristle worm

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekπολύς“many”
  2. Englishpolychete

From Ancient Greek πολύς (polús, “many”) + χαίτη (khaítē, “chaeta”), equivalent to poly- + chaeta.

More words from Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish monisukasmato
  • monisukasmatoannelids of the class Polychaeta
French polychète
  • polychèteannelids of the class Polychaeta
Polish wieloszczet
  • wieloszczetannelids of the class Polychaeta
Portuguese poliqueta
  • poliquetaannelids of the class Polychaeta
Spanish poliqueto
  • poliquetoannelids of the class Polychaeta
Cite this entry
APA

polychete. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polychete

MLA

“polychete.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polychete. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “polychete,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/polychete.

Source: polychete on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.