1. (

• polyp ,
• polypus

) a small vascular growth on the surface of a mucous membrane ;

2. (

• polyp

) one of two forms that coelenterates take (e.g. a hydra or coral): usually sedentary with a hollow cylindrical body usually with a ring of tentacles around the mouth; "in some species of coelenterate, polyps are a phase in the life cycle that alternates with a medusoid phase" ;