What does gorgonian mean?

Definitions for gorgonian
gɔrˈgoʊ ni əngor·goni·an

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word gorgonian.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. gorgonian, gorgonian coralnoun

    corals having a horny or calcareous branching skeleton

Wiktionary

  1. gorgoniannoun

    Any coral of the order Gorgonacea

  2. gorgonianadjective

    Of or relating to the Gorgons.

  3. gorgonianadjective

    Terrible or repulsive.

  4. gorgonianadjective

    Of or relating to any coral of the order Gorgonacea.

Wikipedia

  1. gorgonian

    Alcyonacea, (gorgonian corals or soft corals), are an order of corals. In addition to the fleshy soft corals, the order Alcyonacea now contains all species previously known as "gorgonian corals", that produce a more or less hard skeleton, though quite different from "true" corals (Scleractinia). These can be found in suborders Holaxonia, Scleraxonia, and Stolonifera. They are sessile colonial cnidarians that are found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the deep sea, polar waters, tropics and subtropics. Common names for subsets of this order are sea fans and sea whips; others are similar to the sea pens of related order Pennatulacea. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect, flattened, branching, and reminiscent of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy, or even encrusting. A colony can be several feet high and across, but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Photosynthetic gorgonians can be successfully kept in captive aquaria. About 500 different species of gorgonians are found in the oceans of the world, but they are particularly abundant in the shallow waters of the Western Atlantic, including Florida, Bermuda, and the West Indies.

ChatGPT

  1. gorgonian

    A gorgonian, also known as sea whip or sea fan, is a soft coral that belongs to the subclass Octocorallia. They are sessile colonial marine organisms that grow in branching formations that generally resemble tree-like shapes, sometimes fan-like in their appearance. These coral colonies are often brightly colored, existing in various oceanic regions, particularly in seamounts and the Atlantic Ocean. Gorgonians are important contributors to the structure and biodiversity of coral reef ecosystems.

Webster Dictionary

  1. Gorgonianadjective

    pertaining to, or resembling, a Gorgon; terrifying into stone; terrific

  2. Gorgonianadjective

    pertaining to the Gorgoniacea; as, gorgonian coral

  3. Gorgoniannoun

    one of the Gorgoniacea

  4. Etymology: [L. Gorgoneus.]

Wikidata

  1. Gorgonian

    Gorgonacea is an order of sessile colonial cnidarian found throughout the oceans of the world, especially in the tropics and subtropics. Gorgonians are also known as sea whips or sea fans and are similar to the sea pen, a soft coral. Gorgonians are closely related to, but technically not coral, themselves. Individual tiny polyps form colonies that are normally erect, flattened, branching, and reminiscent of a fan. Others may be whiplike, bushy, or even encrusting. A colony can be several feet high and across but only a few inches thick. They may be brightly coloured, often purple, red, or yellow. Photosynthetic gorgonians can be successfully kept in captive reef aquariums. The name "Gorgonacea" is no longer considered valid and Alcyonacea is now the accepted name for the order.

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of gorgonian in Chaldean Numerology is: 7

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of gorgonian in Pythagorean Numerology is: 1

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