rotifer

American  

[roh-tuh-fer] / ˈroʊ tə fər /

noun

1. any microscopic animal of the phylum (or class) Rotifera, found in fresh and salt waters, having one or more rings of cilia on the anterior end.

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rotifer British  

/ rəʊˈtɪfərəl, ˈrəʊtɪfə /

noun

1. Also called: wheel animalcule.  any minute aquatic multicellular invertebrate of the phylum Rotifera , having a ciliated wheel-like organ used in feeding and locomotion: common constituents of freshwater plankton

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rotifer Scientific  

/ rō′tə-fər /

1. Any of various tiny, multicellular aquatic animals of the phylum Rotifera, having a wheel-like ring of cilia at their front ends. The cilia trap small organisms for food. Rotifers are grouped by some scientists together with nematodes and some other invertebrates as aschelminths.

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Other Word Forms

• rotiferal
  adjective
• rotiferous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of rotifer

From New Latin, dating back to 1785–95; see origin at Rotifera

Example Sentences

But it is probably alone in being the subject of a recent music video tribute by the Austrian musician Robert Rotifer, which is also in the show.

From New York Times • Sep. 19, 2010

Rotifer, rōt′if-ėr, n. one of a class of minute aquatic animals, popularly called wheel-animalcules, with an anterior equipment of cilia whose movements suggest a rapidly rotating wheel:—pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

The Philodina is a good deal like the common wheel-bearer, or Rotifer vulgaris, but is usually of a stouter build, and carries his eyes in a different place.

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

Keeping him company was another little Rotifer, named after its appearance, Monocerca rattus, the 'One-tailed Rat.'

From Marvels of Pond-life A Year's Microscopic Recreations by Slack, Henry J.

If he is classified in the Linnaean scale, he must be set down thus: Genus Homo; Species Rotifer infusorius,—the wheel-animal of infusions.

From The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 05, No. 31, May, 1860 by Various