protozoan

pro·to·zo·an  (prt-zn) also pro·to·zo·on (-n)

n. pl. pro·to·zo·ans or pro·to·zo·a (-z) also pro·to·zo·ons

Any of a large group of single-celled, usually microscopic, eukaryotic organisms, such as amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans.

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[From New Latin Protoza, former subkingdom name : proto- + New Latin -za, pl. of -zon, -zoon.]

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proto·zoan, proto·zoal, proto·zoic adj.

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protozoan [pro-toe-zoe-an]

Noun

pl -zoa a very tiny single-celled invertebrate, such as an amoeba Also: (protozoon) [Greek prōtos first + zoion animal]

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protozoan  (prt-zn)

Plural protozoans or protozoa

Any of a large group of one-celled organisms (called protists) that live in water or as parasites. Many protozoans move about by means of appendages known as cilia or flagella. Protozoans include the amoebas, flagellates, foraminiferans, and ciliates. Their traditional classification as the subkingdom Protozoa is still used for convenience, but it is now known that protozoans represent several evolutionarily distinct groups. See more at protist.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	protozoan - any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosynthetic protozoon protoctist - any of the unicellular protists phylum Protozoa, Protozoa - in some classifications considered a superphylum or a subkingdom; comprises flagellates; ciliates; sporozoans; amoebas; foraminifers sarcodine, sarcodinian - protozoa that move and capture food by forming pseudopods rhizopod, rhizopodan - protozoa characterized by a pseudopod arcella - an amoeba-like protozoan with a chitinous shell resembling an umbrella difflugia - a protozoan with an ovoid shell of cemented sand grains ciliate, ciliated protozoan, ciliophoran - a protozoan with a microscopic appendage extending from the surface of the cell euglena - minute single-celled green freshwater organism having a single flagella; often classed as algae flagellate, flagellate protozoan, flagellated protozoan, mastigophoran, mastigophore - a usually nonphotosynthetic free-living protozoan with whiplike appendages; some are pathogens of humans and other animals plantlike flagellate - unicellular organisms having many characteristics of typical algae sporozoan - parasitic spore-forming protozoan cytostome - mouth of a protozoan
Adj.	1.	protozoan - of or relating to the Protozoa protozoal, protozoic