dinoflagellate

di·no·flag·el·late  (dn-flj-lt, -lt, -fl-jlt)

n.

Any of numerous minute, chiefly marine protozoans of the order Dinoflagellata, characteristically having two flagella and a cellulose covering and forming one of the chief constituents of plankton. They include bioluminescent forms and forms that produce red tide.

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[From New Latin Dnoflagellta, class name : Greek dnos, whirling (from dnein, to whirl) + Latin flagellum, flagellum; see flagellum.]

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dinoflagellate [ˌdaɪnəʊˈflædʒɪlɪt -ˌleɪt]

n

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) any of a group of unicellular biflagellate aquatic organisms forming a constituent of plankton: now usually classified as a phylum of protoctists (Dinoflagellata)

adj

(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Biology) of or relating to dinoflagellates

[from New Latin Dinoflagellata, from Greek dinos whirling + flagellum + -ate¹]

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dinoflagellate  (dn-flj-lt)

Any of numerous one-celled organisms found mostly in the ocean, usually having two flagella of unequal length and often an armorlike covering of cellulose. Dinoflagellates are one of the main components of plankton. Since dinoflagellates have characteristics of both plants and animals, their classification is controversial. See more at red tide.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

dinoflagellate - chiefly marine protozoa having two flagella; a chief constituent of plankton flagellate, flagellate protozoan, flagellated protozoan, mastigophoran, mastigophore - a usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals Cilioflagellata, Dinoflagellata, order Cilioflagellata, order Dinoflagellata - in some classifications considered a phylum of the kingdom Protista; in others included in the plant phylum Pyrrophyta noctiluca, Noctiluca miliaris - large bioluminescent marine protozoan peridinian - flagellate with a thick test composed of plates