Illustration of crinoid
crinoid
noun
cri·noid
ˈkrī-ˌnȯid 
: any of a large class (Crinoidea) of echinoderms usually having a somewhat cup-shaped body with five or more feathery arms compare feather star, sea lily
crinoid
adjective
Examples of crinoid in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This squat lobster is often found on the bodies of crinoids, or feather stars, and is known to mimic the coloring and patterns of their hosts, researchers said.
—
Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 31 July 2025
Genevieve Formation, dating back approximately 340 to 335 million years to when Mammoth Cave was submerged in a warm, shallow sea teeming with life including crinoids and corals, according to the National Park Service.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 July 2025
The predator was attempting to eat sea lilies, also called crinoids.
—James Doubek, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025
The crinoid has between 20 and 22 arms that can reach up to 5.5 inches long, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Some crinoids have as few as five arms, while others can have as many as 180, NOAA says.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
These aquatic, plant-like animals related to sea stars and sea urchins are formally called crinoids.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
Both crinoids and moss animals would be common in that area at the bottom of the sea at the time.
—James Doubek, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025
The same fossil bed yielded ancient sponges, crinoids, and ammonite coprolites and beaks.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 May 2024
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Lauren Liebhaber, Miami Herald, 31 July 2025
Genevieve Formation, dating back approximately 340 to 335 million years to when Mammoth Cave was submerged in a warm, shallow sea teeming with life including crinoids and corals, according to the National Park Service.
—Jon Haworth, ABC News, 24 July 2025
The predator was attempting to eat sea lilies, also called crinoids.
—James Doubek, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025
The crinoid has between 20 and 22 arms that can reach up to 5.5 inches long, according to the study.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
Some crinoids have as few as five arms, while others can have as many as 180, NOAA says.
—Irene Wright, Miami Herald, 13 June 2025
These aquatic, plant-like animals related to sea stars and sea urchins are formally called crinoids.
—Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 30 Jan. 2025
Both crinoids and moss animals would be common in that area at the bottom of the sea at the time.
—James Doubek, NPR, 29 Jan. 2025
The same fossil bed yielded ancient sponges, crinoids, and ammonite coprolites and beaks.
—Isaac Schultz / Gizmodo, Quartz, 18 May 2024
Cite this Entry
“Crinoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/crinoid. Accessed 6 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
crinoid
noun
cri·noid
ˈkrī-ˌnȯid
: any of a large class of invertebrates that are echinoderms and usually have a cup-shaped body with five or more feathery arms
crinoid
adjective
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