n. [ Gr. malako`s soft + &unr_; skin. ] (Zool.) One of a tribe of beetles (Malacodermata), with a soft and flexible body, as the fireflies. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL., from Gr. my`khs a fungus + de`rma skin. ] 1. (Biol.) One of the forms in which bacteria group themselves; a more or less thick layer of motionless but living bacteria, formed by the bacteria uniting on the surface of the fluid in which they are developed. This production differs from the zoogloea stage of bacteria by not having the intermediary mucous substance. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Capitalized) A genus of microorganisms of which the acetic ferment (Mycoderma aceti), which converts alcoholic fluids into vinegar, is a representative. Cf. Mother. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Any of several extinct fishlike jawless vertebrates having a heavily armored body; of the Paleozoic. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖prop. n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. 'o`strakon shell of a testacean + &unr_; skin. ] (Zool.) A suborder of fishes of which Ostracion is the type. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. pla`x, plako`s, tablet + de`rma skin. ] (Paleon.) One of the Placodermi. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Paleon.) Of or pertaining to the placoderms; like the placoderms. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL. ] (Paleon.) Same as Placodermi. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. pl. [ NL., fr. Gr. pla`x, plako`s, a tablet + de`rma skin. ] (Paleon.) An extinct group of fishes, supposed to be ganoids. The body and head were covered with large bony plates. See Illust. under Pterichthys, and Coccosteus. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ ‖ } n. [ NL. sarcoderma. See Sarco-, and Derm. ] (Bot.) (a) A fleshy covering of a seed, lying between the external and internal integuments. (b) A sarcocarp. [ 1913 Webster ]