cilia
[ sil-ee-uh ]
/ ˈsɪl i ə /
plural noun, singular cil·i·um [sil-ee-uh m] /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.
Nearby words
ciggy, cigs, ciguatera, cilantro, cili-, cilia, ciliarotomy, ciliary, ciliary artery, ciliary body, ciliary disk
Origin of cilia
1705–15; New Latin, plural of cilium eyelash, Latin: upper eyelid, perhaps a back formation from supercilium eyebrow; see supercilium
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Science definitions for cilia
cilium
[ sĭl′ē-əm ]
Plural cilia
A tiny hairlike projection on the surface of some cells and microscopic organisms, especially protozoans. Cilia are capable of whipping motions and are used by some microorganisms, such as paramecia, for movement. Cilia lining the human respiratory tract act to remove foreign matter from air before it reaches the lungs.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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