gregarine

[ greg-uh-rahyn, -er-in ]

noun

1. a type of sporozoan parasite that inhabits the digestive and other cavities of various invertebrates and produces cysts filled with spores.

adjective

1. having the characteristics of or pertaining to a gregarine or gregarines.

gregarine

/ ˈɡrɛɡəˌriːn; -rɪn /

noun

1. any parasitic protozoan of the order Gregarinida, typically occurring in the digestive tract and body cavity of other invertebrates: phylum Apicomplexa (sporozoans)

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Gregarinida

Word History and Origins

Origin of gregarine¹

1865–70; < New Latin Gregarina name of type, equivalent to Latin gregār ( ius ) ( gregarious ) + -īna -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gregarine¹

C19: from New Latin Gregarīna genus name, from Latin gregārius; see gregarious

Example Sentences

These exceedingly small germ-cells afterwards develop into the very different, adult gregarine-cells.

From Project Gutenberg

For at last they become an Acinetan or a Gregarine, exactly like the parent-cell from which they arose as embryos.

From Project Gutenberg

Gromphadorhina portentosa Protozoan: Undetermined gregarine, p. 184.

From Project Gutenberg

A gregarine, Diplocystis, in the haemocoele of the roach, Blaberus craniifer Burm.

From Project Gutenberg