zoophyte

• zoöphyte, zoophite, zoöphite

From zoo- +‎ -phyte, after Middle French zoophyte; later reinforced by scientific Latin Zoophyta.

• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈzəʊəfaɪt/, /ˈzuːfaɪt/

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zoophyte (plural zoophytes)

1. (biology, historical) An animal thought to have the characteristics of a plant, later specifically an invertebrate of the (former) group Zoophyta, comprising sponges, corals and sea anemones. [from 17th c.]
2. (biology, historical) A plant believed to have the characteristics of an animal, especially a sensitive plant or vegetable lamb. [from 17th c.]
   • 1665, Robert Hooke, Micrographia, section XIX:

     And besides, as there are many Zoophyts, and sensitive Plants […] so have we, in some Authors, Instances of Plants turning into Animals, and Animals into Plants, and the like […]

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zoophyte m (plural zoophytes)

1. zoophyte

• “zoophyte”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.