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An order of free-swimming marine worms, of which the genus Sagitta is the type. They have groups of curved spines on each side of the head.

The sensitiveness exhibited by small free-swimming organisms, as bacteria, zoöspores of algæ, etc., to chemical substances held in solution. They may be attracted (positive chemotaxis) or repelled (negative chemotaxis). -- Chem`o*tac"tic (#), a. -- Chem`o*tac"tic*al*ly, adv.

Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat resembling true cilia, as those of Ctenophora.

A racing stroke, in which the swimmer, lying flat on the water with face submerged, takes alternate overhand arm strokes while moving his legs up and down alternately from the knee.

A class of Coelenterata, commonly ellipsoidal in shape, swimming by means of eight longitudinal rows of paddles. The separate paddles somewhat resemble combs.

The free-swimming, bivalve larva of certain Bryozoa.

Actively; quickly; nimbly. [Obs.] Swim with your bodies, And carry it sweetly and deliverly. Beau. & Fl.

ited; -- applied to a group of carinate birds (Desmognathæ), including various wading and swimming birds, as the ducks and herons, and also raptorial and other kinds.

One of the free-swimming sexual zooids of Siphonophora.

A genus of freeswimming oceanic tunicates, allied to Salpa, and having alternate generations.

Hence: Towards the mouth of a river; towards the sea; as, to sail or swim down a stream; to sail down the sound. Down the country, toward the sea, or toward the part where rivers discharge their waters into the ocean. -- Down the sound, in the direction of the ebbing tide; toward the sea.

[R.] Tenderness becomes me best, a sort of dyingness; you see that picture, Foible, -- a swimmingness in the eyes; yes, I'll look so. Congreve.

A swimming out. [Obs.] Bailey.

A stage in the development of discophorous medusæ, when they first begin to swim about after being detached from the strobila. See Strobila.

A membranous, finlike, swimming organ, as in pteropod and heteropod mollusks.

(Steamship), a propeller with a single blade that oscillates like the tail of a fish when swimming.

., the winter flounder (Pleuronectes Americanus). The flatfishes have the body flattened, swim on the side, and have eyes on one side, as the flounder, turbot, and halibut. See Flounder.

To float; to swim. [Obs.] "Whether I sink or flete." Chaucer.

A broad flat limb used for swimming, as those of seals, sea turtles, whales, etc.

buoy up whatever is liable to sink; an inflated bag or pillow used by persons learning to swim; a life preserver. This reform bill . . . had been used as a float by the conservative ministry. J. P. Peters.