vertebrate
/ˈvɜːtɪbrət/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɚtəbrˌet] /ˈvɜːrtɪbrət/ (ame, ipa) · [vˈɚtəbrˌet] /ˈvər-tə-brət How to pronounce vertebrate (audio) -ˌbrāt How to pronounce vertebrate (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /ˈvɜː.tɪ.brət/ (bre, ipa) · [vˈɚtəbrˌet] /ˈvɝː.t̬ə.brət/ (ame, ipa)
vertebrate — adjective
- vertebratepositive
- more vertebratecomparative
- most vertebratesuperlative
1. describes an animal whose body contains a backbone — a line of small bones that
describes an animal whose body contains a backbone — a line of small bones that runs from the head down the back, protecting the nerves inside.
All vertebrate animals, from goldfish to elephants, share the same basic body plan.
attributive use: vertebrate + animal
The biology textbook explained how the vertebrate skeleton supports the body and allows movement.
collocation: vertebrate skeleton
A salmon is a vertebrate creature, even though its backbone is thinner than a cow's.
Diego drew a careful diagram of the vertebrate spine and labelled each section for his homework.
The fossils found near the riverbed show that these early vertebrate species had no jawbones.
- backboned
informal equivalent; used in children's science books but rare in academic writing
- invertebrate
describes animals without a backbone, such as insects, worms, and shellfish
文法句型
vertebrate + noun
be + vertebrate
用法筆記
The adjective is most common in scientific writing, placed before the noun it describes (e.g. vertebrate animals, vertebrate fossils). In everyday conversation, 'with a backbone' or 'that has a spine' is more natural.
常見錯誤
vertebrate — noun
- vertebratesingular
- vertebratesplural
1. a living creature whose body is built around a backbone — a row of small bones t
a living creature whose body is built around a backbone — a row of small bones that runs from the head down the back and protects the nerves travelling through the body.
Mammals, birds, fish, and reptiles are all examples of vertebrates, and they all have a spine.
listing examples of vertebrates
The museum display compares the skeletons of different vertebrates side by side.
A human being is a vertebrate, just like a cat, a frog, or a salmon.
Most vertebrates keep their brain inside a skull at the front of the body.
Vinícius wrote his report on how the first vertebrates moved from the ocean onto land.
- backboned animal
informal, uses plain language; common in children's educational materials
- invertebrate
an animal without a backbone, e.g. insects, worms, squid, and shellfish
文法句型
a + vertebrate
vertebrate + verb
用法筆記
In everyday English, people rarely say 'vertebrate' — they name the specific group instead ('bird', 'dog', 'fish'). The term appears mainly in biology class or nature documentaries.