noun
urchin
A small sea animal with a rounded shell covered in spines.
An urchin clings to a rock in the tide pool.
Etymology
Urchin originally named a hedgehog. Sea urchin transfers that animal's conspicuously spiny appearance to the marine creature.
More examples
- Long spines cover the sea urchin's rounded body.
- We watch several urchins beneath the clear water.
- The aquarium labels the different species of urchins.
Forms
urchin · urchins