foraminifer

for·a·min·i·fer  (fôr-mn-fr, fr-) also fo·ram·i·nif·er·an (f-rm-nfr-n)

n.

Any of the chiefly marine protozoans of the order Foraminifera, characteristically having a calcareous shell with perforations through which numerous pseudopods protrude.

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[From New Latin Forminifera, order name : Latin formen, formin-, an opening + Latin -fer, -fer.]

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fo·rami·nifer·ous (f-rm-nfr-s), fo·rami·nifer·al adj.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

foraminifer - marine microorganism having a calcareous shell with openings where pseudopods protrude foram rhizopod, rhizopodan - protozoa characterized by a pseudopod Foraminifera, order Foraminifera - foraminifers globigerina - marine protozoan having a rounded shell with spiny processes nummulite - large fossil protozoan of the Tertiary period