/si len"teuh rayt', -teuhr it/ , n.
1. any invertebrate animal of the phylum Coelenterata, including the hydras, jellyfishes, sea anemones, and corals, characterized by a single internal cavity serving for digestion, excretion, and other functions and having tentacles on the oral end. Cf. cnidarian .
adj.
2. belonging or pertaining to the Coelenterata.
[ 1870-75; see COELENTERATA ]