pro·tist
(prō′tĭst)n. Any of numerous eukaryotic organisms that are not fungi, plants, or animals and are chiefly unicellular or colonial. Protists that are multicellular do not have cells differentiated into tissues. The protists include the protozoans, certain algae, oomycetes, and slime molds.
[From New Latin
Prōtista,
former kingdom name, from Greek
prōtista, neuter pl. of
prōtistos,
the very first, superlative of
prōtos,
first; see
per in
Indo-European roots.]
pro·tis′tan (-tĭs′tən) adj. & n.
pro′tis·tol′o·gy (prō′tĭ-stŏl′ə-jē) n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
protist
(ˈprəʊtɪst) or protistan
n (Biology) (in some classification systems) any organism belonging to the kingdom
Protista, originally including bacteria, protozoans, algae, and fungi, regarded as distinct from plants and animals. It was later restricted to protozoans, unicellular algae, and simple fungi. See also
protoctist [C19: from New Latin Protista most primitive organisms, from Greek prōtistos the very first, from prōtos first]
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
pro•tist
(ˈproʊ tɪst)
n. any of various complex one-celled organisms, of the kingdom Protista, that have nuclei and organelles and that are either free-living or aggregated into simple colonies: includes the protozoans, slime molds, and eukaryotic algae.
[1885–90; < New Latin
Protista (neuter pl.) < Greek
prṓtistos (masculine singular) the very first, superlative of
prôtos first; see
proto-]
pro•tis′tan, adj., n.
pro•tis′tic, adj.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
pro·tist
(prō′tĭst) Any of a large variety of usually one-celled organisms, including the protozoans, most algae, and the slime molds. Protists are eukaryotes (that is, they have cell nuclei) and live in water or in watery tissues of organisms. They are grouped as a separate kingdom in taxonomy. Also called
protoctist. See Table at
taxonomy.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| Noun | 1. | protist - free-living or colonial organisms with diverse nutritional and reproductive modesdivision Protista, Protista - eukaryotic one-celled living organisms distinct from multicellular plants and animals: protozoa, slime molds, and eukaryotic algae |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
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