/ˈɑ:θrəpɒd ||; ˈɑrθrəˌpɑd/noun [C] any of the PHYLUM (= group)of animals that have a hard body without a BACKBONE in it. Arthropods have legs that are made of more than one part and that can bend where the parts join together. 节足动物，节肢动物（身体坚硬无脊柱，肢分几节可屈曲）: Spiders, insects and crustaceans are arthropods. 蜘蛛、昆虫和甲壳动物都是节肢动物。