ECTOTHERM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ectotherm mean? 

• ECTOTHERM (noun)
  The noun ECTOTHERM has 1 sense:

1. an animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings; any animal except birds and mammals

  Familiarity information: ECTOTHERM used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ECTOTHERM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An animal whose body temperature varies with the temperature of its surroundings; any animal except birds and mammals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

ectotherm; poikilotherm

Hypernyms ("ectotherm" is a kind of...):

animal; animate being; beast; brute; creature; fauna (a living organism characterized by voluntary movement)

 Context examples 

Sharks are ectotherms, which means they depend on external sources of body heat.

(New study of endangered whale shark youth shows vital habitat similarities, Wikinews)