zoophyte noun. ['zǝʊǝfʌɪt] E17.
[mod. Latin zoophyton from Greek zōiophuton, from zōion animal: see ZOO-, -PHYTE.]
1. Any of certain plants formerly reputed to have some animal qualities, e.g. the sensitive plant. Only in 17.
2. Zoology. Any of various sessile invertebrate animals that resemble plants or flowers, such as crinoids, hydrozoans, sponges, and bryozoans. Formerly spec., an animal of the former group Zoophyta, which included some or most of these. E17.

■ zoophytic [zǝʊǝ'fɪtɪk] adjective of, pertaining to, or produced by zoophytes; of the nature of a zoophyte: E19.

■ zoophy'tology noun (now rare or obsolete) the branch of zoology that deals with zoophytes E19.

[TahlilGaran] English Dictionary ▲