basal body

American  

noun

Cell Biology.

1. a cylindrical organelle, within the cytoplasm of flagellated and ciliated cells, that contains microtubules and forms the base of a flagellum or cilium: identical in internal structure to a centriole.

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Etymology

Origin of basal body

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Meanwhile, I monitored my basal body temperature, weighing motherhood against the seriousness of our courtship.

From Salon • Aug. 28, 2021

Many FABMs do so by tracking physical signs of hormonal shifts, including changes in cervical fluid and a spike in basal body temperature.

From Scientific American • Apr. 25, 2019

Methods that use only basal body temperature or only cervical mucus are less effective, but still provide better contraceptive efficacy than the rhythm method.

From Slate • Sep. 19, 2018

Natural Cycles works by calculating which days of the month a woman is likely to be fertile based on information she enters about her menstrual cycle and basal body temperature.

From Washington Post • Aug. 14, 2018

Exercise, greater muscle tone or eating a lot of protein, unsaturated fats or foods that are spicy or rich can elevate one’s basal body temperature, Dr. Paras says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2016