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acritarch

American

[ak-ri-tahrk] / ˈæk rɪˌtɑrk /

noun

Paleontology.

any of various microfossils, of unknown biological affinities, having a central cavity enclosed by a wall of chiefly organic composition.

Other Word Forms

acritarchous

adjective

Etymology

Origin of acritarch

1963; < New Latin Acritarcha (neuter plural), irregular < Greek ákrit ( os ) confused, doubtful ( see a- ⁶, critic) + archḗ beginning, origin ( cf. archi-)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

K is an acritarch, the frequently spiny biological equivalent of a UFO.

From Scientific American • May 26, 2019

The acritarch At Heaven’s gate sings; Been waiting here three million years, Three million falls and springs.

From Washington Post • Jul. 16, 2015

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023