'water bears' definitions:
Definition of 'water bears'
From: GCIDE
- Tardigrada \Tar`di*gra"da\, n. pl. [NL. See Tardigrade, a.]
- 1. (Zool.) A tribe of edentates comprising the sloths. They are noted for the slowness of their movements when on the ground. See Sloth, 3. [1913 Webster]
- 2. (Zool.) An order of minute aquatic arachnids; -- called also bear animalcules, sloth animalcules, and {water bears}. [1913 Webster]