ˌgastərōˈstēəˌdē noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from Gasterosteus, type genus (from gaster- + osteus ) + -idae
: a family of small spiny-finned freshwater or salt-water fishes that consists of the sticklebacks and constitutes with related forms a suborder of Scleroparei or is placed with the cornetfishes and pipefishes in the order Solenichthyes
• gas·ter·os·te·i·form ˌgastəˈrästēəˌfȯrm adjective
• gas·ter·os·te·oid -stēˌȯid adjective