zoëa

/zoʊˈi.ə/

noun

A larval stage of certain decapod crustaceans, especially of decapods such as crabs and certain Anomura, also called the copepod stage, characterized by spines on the carapace and rudimentary thoracic and abdominal limbs.

OriginNew Latin zōaea ← Ancient Greek ζωή →
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Meanings

nounzoëa (plural zoëas or zoëae)

plural zoëas · plural zoëae · alternative zoaea · alternative zoea · alternative zooea

  1. biologyA larval stage of certain decapod crustaceans, especially of decapods such as crabs and certain Anomura, also called the copepod stage, characterized by spines on the carapace and rudimentary thoracic and abdominal limbs.

Origin

  1. Ancient Greekζωή“life”
  2. New Latinzōaea
  3. Englishzoëa

From New Latin zōaea, zōēa, from Ancient Greek ζωή (zōḗ, “life”) (compare ζῷον (zōîon)).

More words from New Latin, Ancient Greek

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French zoé
  • zoéstage of development
Cite this entry
APA

zoëa. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zo%C3%ABa

MLA

“zoëa.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zo%C3%ABa. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zoëa,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zo%C3%ABa.

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