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monotreme (n.)
"animal of the lowest order of mammals," native to Australia and New Zealand, which have one opening for the genital, urinary, and digestive organs, 1833, from Monotremata, the order name, Modern Latin, neuter plural of monotrematus, from Greek monos "single, alone" (see mono-) + stem of trēma "perforation, hole, opening; eye of a needle, dot on dice," related to tetrainein "to bore through, perforate" (from PIE root *tere- (1) "to rub, turn"). Related: Monotrematous.
updated on February 17, 2021
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Definitions of monotreme from WordNet
Dictionary entries near monotreme
monotheistic
monotone
monotonic
monotonous
monotony
monotreme
monotype
monoxide
Monroe
mons
monseigneur