hydrozoa Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun coelenterates typically having alternation of generations; hydroid phase is usually colonial giving rise to the medusoid phase by budding: hydras and jellyfishes
    class Hydrozoa.
  2. noun colonial coelenterates having the polyp phase dominant
    hydroid; hydrozoan.

WordNet

Hy`dro*zo"a noun plural
Etymology
NL., fr. E. hydra + Gr. an animal.
Definitions
  1. (Zoöl.) The Acalephæ; one of the classes of coelenterates, including the Hydroidea, Discophora, and Siphonophora.

Webster 1913