pro·to·zo·an (pr  t -z n) 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. pro to·zoan, proto·zoal, proto·zoic adj. |
protozoan [ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊən]
n pl -zoa [-ˈzəʊə], -zoans
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) Also called protozoon [ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊɒn]
pl -zoa any of various minute unicellular organisms formerly regarded as invertebrates of the phylum Protozoa but now usually classified in certain phyla of protoctists. Protozoans include flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, amoebas, and foraminifers
adj also "proto'zoic
(Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Animals) of or relating to protozoans
[via New Latin from Greek proto- + zoion animal]
| 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. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  protozoan - any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosyntheticprotoctist - 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 |
Translations
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content.
| ?Page tools | ||
|---|---|---|
|