gill slit
noun
1
: any of the openings or clefts between the gill arches in vertebrates that breathe by gills through which water taken in at the mouth passes to the exterior and so bathes the gills
2
: any of the rudimentary grooves in the neck region of the embryos of air-breathing vertebrates that correspond to the gill slits
3
: the external opening to the cavity containing the gills when a protective covering of the gills is present
Examples of gill slit in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Also like other pygmy seahorses, the African species has only one gill slit on its upper back, instead of two below each side of the head, like larger seahorses—another mystery.
—
National Geographic, 20 May 2020
But to breathe, most pull oxygen-containing water into their mouths and pump it through their gill chambers before expelling it out of their gill slits.
—Alex Fox, Science | AAAS, 14 June 2019
National Geographic, 20 May 2020
But to breathe, most pull oxygen-containing water into their mouths and pump it through their gill chambers before expelling it out of their gill slits.
—Alex Fox, Science | AAAS, 14 June 2019
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gill slit.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1854, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near gill slit
Cite this Entry
“Gill slit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gill%20slit. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
gill slit
noun1
: any of the openings which occur in vertebrates with gills and through which water taken in at the mouth moves to the outside bathing the gills
2
: an undeveloped gill slit that occurs at some time in the development of the embryos of air-breathing vertebrates
Medical Definition
gill slit
noun
: one of the openings or clefts between the gill arches in vertebrates that breathe by gills through which water taken in at the mouth passes to the exterior and bathes the gills
also
: branchial cleft
More from Merriam-Webster on gill slit
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about gill slit
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