protozoan

American  

[proh-tuh-zoh-uhn] / ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ən /

noun

protozoans, plural protozoa plural

1. any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular, existing singly or aggregating into colonies, are usually nonphotosynthetic, and are often classified further into phyla according to their capacity for and means of motility, as by pseudopods, flagella, or cilia.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a protozoan.

protozoan British  

/ ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊən /

noun

1. Also called: protozoon.  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

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adjective

1. of or relating to protozoans

protozoan Scientific  

/ prō′tə-zō′ən /

protozoans plural

1. 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.

2. See more at protist

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• protozoans
  plural
• protozoa
  plural

Etymology

Origin of protozoan

First recorded in 1860–65; Protozo(a) + -an

Example Sentences

ECTOSPORA, a homogeneous and natural division of Protozoan parasites included under the Sporozoa; they comprise the three orders, Gregarines, Coccidia and Haemosporidia.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 10 "Echinoderma" to "Edward" by Various

It is caused by the presence in the system of Protozoan parasites, the so-called Leishman-Donovan bodies, that have recently been studied by several observers.

From Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases by Doane, Rennie Wilbur

Horses, sheep, dogs, and other animals are also affected with diseases caused by the same group of Protozoan parasites.

From Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases by Doane, Rennie Wilbur

A species of Vorticella was probably the first Protozoan that was ever observed.

From Insects and Diseases A Popular Account of the Way in Which Insects may Spread or Cause some of our Common Diseases by Doane, Rennie Wilbur

Take him to the Linnean Society, and treat him to a lecture "On the Differentiation of the Protozoan Body Microscopically Sectionised."

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Vol. 104, February 25, 1893 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir