cil·i·um

(sĭl′ē-əm)

n. pl. cil·i·a (-ē-ə)

1. A microscopic hairlike process extending from the surface of a cell or unicellular organism. Capable of rhythmical motion, it acts in unison with other such structures to bring about the movement of the cell or of the surrounding medium.

2. An eyelash.

3. Botany One of the hairs along the margin or edge of a structure, such as a leaf, usually forming a fringe.

[Latin, eyelid; see kel- in Indo-European roots.]

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.

cilium

(ˈsɪlɪəm)

n, pl cilia (ˈsɪlɪə)

1. (Zoology) any of the short thread-like projections on the surface of a cell, organism, etc, whose rhythmic beating causes movement of the organism or of the surrounding fluid

2. (Anatomy) the technical name for eyelash

[C18: New Latin, from Latin: (lower) eyelid, eyelash]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

cil•i•a

(ˈsɪl i ə)

n.pl., sing. cil•i•um (ˈsɪl i əm)

1. short, hairlike, rhythmically beating organelles on the surface of certain cells that provide mobility, as in protozoans, or move fluids and particles along ducts in multicellular forms.

2. the eyelashes.

[1705–15; New Latin, pl. of cilium eyelash, perhaps from Latin supercilium eyebrow; see superciliary]

cil·i·um

(sĭl′ē-əm)

Plural cilia

A hair-like projection capable of a whipping motion and found in certain vertebrate cells and microscopic organisms, especially protozoans. Some microorganisms, such as paramecia, use cilia for movement. Cilia lining the human respiratory tract act to remove foreign matter from air before it reaches the lungs.

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.

cilium

(pl. cilia) A microscopic, hairlike projection from some cells.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun	1.	cilium - a hairlike projection from the surface of a cell; provides locomotion in free-swimming unicellular organisms cell organ, cell organelle, organelle - a specialized part of a cell; analogous to an organ; "the first organelle to be identified was the nucleus"
	2.	cilium - any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids eyelash, lash hair - a covering for the body (or parts of it) consisting of a dense growth of threadlike structures (as on the human head); helps to prevent heat loss; "he combed his hair"; "each hair consists of layers of dead keratinized cells" eyelid, lid, palpebra - either of two folds of skin that can be moved to cover or open the eye; "his lids would stay open no longer"

Translations

brvařasinka

ripsivärekarva

cilie

cil·i·um

n. L. párpado.