Meanings
plural zoophytes · alternative zoöphyte · alternative zoophite · alternative zoöphite
- historicalbiologyAn animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones.First known use 17th c.
- historicalbiologyA plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb.First known use 17th c.
And besides, as there are many Zoophyts, and sensitive Plants […] so have we, in some Authors, Instances of Plants turning into Animals, and Animals into Plants, and the like […]
1665, Robert Hooke, Micrographia, section XIX
Origin
- Middle Frenchzoophyte
- Englishzoophyte
From zoo- + -phyte, after Middle French zoophyte; later reinforced by scientific Latin Zoophyta.
More words from Middle French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian зоофи́т
- зоофи́т (zoofít)invertebrate animal which resembles plants
Finnish zoofyytti
- zoofyyttiinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Greek ζωόφυτο
- ζωόφυτο (zoófyto)invertebrate animal which resembles plants
Irish zóifít, míol-luibh
- zóifítinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
- míol-luibhinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Italian zoofito
- zoofitoinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Malay zoofit
- zoofitinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Polish zwierzokrzew
- zwierzokrzewinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Russian зоофи́т
- зоофи́т (zoofít)invertebrate animal which resembles plants
Spanish zoófito
- zoófitoinvertebrate animal which resembles plants
Cite this entry
zoophyte. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zoophyte
“zoophyte.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zoophyte. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “zoophyte,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/zoophyte.
Source: zoophyte on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.