vertebrate(n = noun.animal) craniate - animals having a bony or cartilaginous skeleton with a segmented spinal column and a large brain enclosed in a skull or cranium;
is a kind of chordate
has parts: belly, tail, caudal appendage, costa, rib, chest, pectus, thorax, pedal extremity, vertebrate foot, dactyl, digit
is a member of craniata, subphylum craniata, subphylum vertebrata, vertebrata
has particulars: fetus, foetus, amniota, amniote, aquatic vertebrate, gnathostome, bird, amphibian, reptile, reptilian, mammal, mammalian, tetrapod
Derived form adjective vertebrate₁

   vertebrate(a = adj.all) - having a backbone or spinal column; "fishes and amphibians and reptiles and birds and mammals are verbetrate animals"
Antonym: invertebrate
Derived form noun vertebrate₁

   One of the Vertebrata. [1913 Webster]

1.  Having a backbone, or vertebral column, containing the spinal marrow, as man, quadrupeds, birds, amphibia, and fishes. [1913 Webster]

2.  Contracted at intervals, so as to resemble the spine in animals. Henslow. [1913 Webster]

3.  Having movable joints resembling vertebræ; -- said of the arms of ophiurans. [1913 Webster]

4.  Of or pertaining to the Vertebrata; -- used only in the form vertebrate. [1913 Webster]

vertebrate, n. & adj.
--n. any animal of the subphylum Vertebrata, having a spinal column, including mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fishes.
--adj. of or relating to the vertebrates.

Etymology:
L vertebratus jointed (as VERTEBRA)

aquatic vertebrate, jawless vertebrate, vertebrate foot, vertebrate paleontology