from
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Starfish \Star"fish`\ (-f[i^]sh`), n.
1. (Zool.) Any one of numerous species of echinoderms
belonging to the class Asterioidea, in which the body is
star-shaped and usually has five rays, though the number
of rays varies from five to forty or more. The rays are
often long, but are sometimes so short as to appear only
as angles to the disklike body. Called also {sea star},
{five-finger}, and {stellerid}.
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Note: The ophiuroids are also sometimes called starfishes.
See {Brittle star}, and {Ophiuroidea}.
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2. (Zool.) The dollar fish, or butterfish.
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