archaea

[ ahr-kee-uh ]

/ ˈɑr ki ə /

plural noun, singular ar·chae·on [ahr-kee-on] /ˈɑr kiˌɒn/.

archaebacteria.

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“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.

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Words nearby archaea

arch of triumph, arch support, arch-, arch., arch. e., archaea, archaean, archaebacteria, archaebacterium, archaeo-, archaeoastronomy

Scientific definitions for archaea

archaeon

[ är′kē-ŏn′ ]

Plural archaea

Any of a group of microorganisms that resemble bacteria but are different from them in their genetic makeup and certain aspects of their cell structure, such as the composition of their cell walls. Archaea usually live in extreme, often very hot or salty environments, such as hot mineral springs or deep-sea hydrothermal vents, but some are also found in animal digestive systems. The archaea are considered a separate domain in some classifications, but a division of the prokaryotes (Monera) in others. Some scientists believe that archaea were the earliest forms of cellular life. Also called archaebacterium