Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Ianthina


I-an′thi-na

,
Noun.
;
pl. L.
Ianthinæ
(#)
, E.
Ianthinas
(#)
.
[NL., fr. L.
ianthinus
violet-blue, Gr. [GREEK]; [GREEK] violet + [GREEK] flower.]
(Zool.)
Any gastropod of the genus
Ianthina
, of which various species are found living in mid ocean; – called also
purple shell
, and
violet snail
.
[Written also
janthina
.]
☞ It floats at the surface by means of a raft, which it constructs by forming and uniting together air bubbles of hardened mucus. The Tyrian purple of the ancients was obtained in part from mollusks of this genus.

Definition 2024


ianthina

ianthina

English

Noun

ianthina (plural ianthinas)

  1. Any of the family Janthinidae of violet snails.
    • 1949, Ray Smith Bassler, Shelled creatures and geological history
      But a clammy feeling soon dampened his enthusiasm, and he looked down to find his fine white suit streaked with violet where the ianthinas had discharged their ink.

Latin

Adjective

ianthina

  1. nominative feminine singular of ianthinus
  2. nominative neuter plural of ianthinus
  3. accusative neuter plural of ianthinus
  4. vocative feminine singular of ianthinus
  5. vocative neuter plural of ianthinus

ianthinā

  1. ablative feminine singular of ianthinus