ˌme]zəˈzōə, ˌmē], ]sə- noun plural
Usage: capitalized
Etymology: New Latin, from mes- + -zoa
: a group of small wormlike parasitic animals that are typically comparable to a stereoblastula with an outer layer of somatic cells and an inner mass of reproductive cells and are often regarded as intermediate in organization between Protozoa and Metazoa though perhaps being degenerate descendants of more highly organized forms — see dicyemida , orthonectida
• meso·zo·an | ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|zōən\ adjective