Standard Lemma guide

ascidian

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /əˈsɪdi.ən/
  • rhymes with -ɪdiən

1

noun

Meaning 1

Any member of the class Ascidiacea (the sea squirts)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

minute sedentary marine invertebrate having a saclike body with siphons through which water enters and leaves

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tunicate, urochordate, urochord

Narrower terms: sea squirt

History

Etymology

From New Latin Ascidia + -an, from Ancient Greek ἀσκίδιον (askídion, “wineskin, leather bag”).

Across languages

Translations

9 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: sumka — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • French: ascidie — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Italian: ascidiaceo — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Japanese: ホヤ (hoya) — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Polish: żachwa — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Portuguese: ascídio — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Romanian: ascidie — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Spanish: ascidia — any member of the class Ascidiacea
  • Swedish: sjöpung — any member of the class Ascidiacea