2 entries under this word

Vertebrate

Vĕr'te-brāte, n.

noun

n. An animal having an internal jointed skeleton, the back-bone in which is called the vertebral or spinal column; an animal of the sub-kingdom of vertebrates, as a mammal, bird, reptile, or fish. See ANIMAL KINGDOM.

Vĕr'te-brāte or Vĕr'te-brā'ted, a.

adjective

a. [Lat. vertebratus, It. vertebrato, Sp. vertebrado, Fr. vertebré.]

  1. (Anat.) Having a back-bone, or vertebral column, containing the spinal marrow, as man, quadrupeds, birds, amphibia, and fishes. Cuvier.
  2. (Bot.) Contracted at intervals, so as to resemble the spine in animals. Henslow.