A specialized cell in the tentacles of a jellyfish or other coelenterate, containing a barbed or venomous coiled thread that can be projected in self-defence or to capture prey.
〔动〕刺丝囊，刺细胞
Example sentencesExamples
Casually touching many cnidarians will make it clear how they got their name when their nematocysts eject barbed threads tipped with poison.
If pain persists, powder and shave the skin to remove any remaining nematocysts.
As a feeding adaptation, the anemones are equipped with stinging cells called nematocysts, which are triggered as soon as a tentacle touches a living organism, paralyzing it upon contact.
Members of the phylum Cnidaria, these animals have capsule-shaped cells with a trapdoor-like lid, containing a stinging nematocyst.
If collar cells and spicules are defining characteristics of the Phylum Porifera, then nematocysts define cnidarians.
Definition of nematocyst in US English:
nematocyst
nounniˈmatə-
Zoology
A specialized cell in the tentacles of a jellyfish or other coelenterate, containing a barbed or venomous coiled thread that can be projected in self-defense or to capture prey.
〔动〕刺丝囊，刺细胞
Example sentencesExamples
If collar cells and spicules are defining characteristics of the Phylum Porifera, then nematocysts define cnidarians.
As a feeding adaptation, the anemones are equipped with stinging cells called nematocysts, which are triggered as soon as a tentacle touches a living organism, paralyzing it upon contact.
If pain persists, powder and shave the skin to remove any remaining nematocysts.
Casually touching many cnidarians will make it clear how they got their name when their nematocysts eject barbed threads tipped with poison.
Members of the phylum Cnidaria, these animals have capsule-shaped cells with a trapdoor-like lid, containing a stinging nematocyst.