cilia
[ sil-ee-uh ]
/ ˈsɪl i ə /
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plural noun, singular cil·i·um [sil-ee-uhm]. /ˈsɪl i əm/.
Biology. minute hairlike organelles, identical in structure to flagella, that line the surfaces of certain cells and beat in rhythmic waves, providing locomotion to ciliate protozoans and moving liquids along internal epithelial tissue in animals.
Anatomy. the eyelashes.
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Origin of cilia
1705–15; New Latin, plural of cilium eyelash, Latin: upper eyelid, perhaps a back formation from supercilium eyebrow; see supercilium
Words nearby cilia
CIGS, ciguatera, ciguatoxin, cilantro, cili-, cilia, ciliarotomy, ciliary, ciliary artery, ciliary body, ciliary disk
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
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