C1nounnaturescience
US/ˈvɜːr.tə.breɪt/
UK/ˈvɜː.tɪ.breɪt/
an animal that has a backbone, such as a fish, bird or mammal
In context
Humans, birds and fish are all vertebrates because they have a backbone.
The class studied the skeleton of a small vertebrate.
Most animals on Earth are not vertebrates but insects and other small creatures.
Words that go with vertebrate
adjective + noun
- land vertebrateThe first land vertebrates came from the sea.
- marine vertebrateThe whale is the largest marine vertebrate.
- small vertebrateOwls hunt small vertebrates such as mice.
noun + noun
- vertebrate speciesThere are about 60,000 vertebrate species.
- vertebrate animalEvery vertebrate animal has a spine.