ciliate

[ sil-ee-it, -eyt ]

noun

1. Also called cil·i·oph·o·ran [sil-ee-, of, -er-, uh, n]. any protozoan of the phylum Ciliophora (or in some classification schemes, class Ciliata), as those of the genera Paramecium, Tetrahymena, Stentor, and Vorticella, having cilia on part or all of the surface.

adjective

1. Also cil·i·at·ed [] having cilia.
2. belonging or pertaining to the phylum Ciliophora.

ciliate

/ -eɪt; ˈsɪlɪɪt /

adjective

1. Alsociliated possessing or relating to cilia

   a ciliate epithelium

2. of or relating to protozoans of the phylum Ciliophora , which have an outer layer of cilia

noun

1. a protozoan of the phylum Ciliophora

Derived Forms

• ˌciliˈation, noun

Other Words From

• cili·ate·ly adverb
• cili·ation noun
• multi·cili·ate adjective
• multi·cili·ated adjective
• non·cili·ate adjective
• non·cili·ated adjective
• un·cili·ated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of ciliate¹

1785–95; < New Latin ciliātus, equivalent to cili ( a ) cilia + -ātus -ate ¹

Example Sentences

Honeybees, for instance, were Apis pubescens, thorace subgriseo, abdomine fusco, pedibus posticus glabis, untrinque margine ciliates.

From Science News For Students

Mixed in with them are smaller scales, from two to four lines long, and more distinctly ciliate-toothed.

From Project Gutenberg

It has seized with its tentacles, and is in the act of sucking out the juices of six examples of the Ciliate Colpoda parvifrons.

From Project Gutenberg

Perianth of 3–6 mostly retrorsely barbed or ciliate bristles (not elongated), or sometimes wanting.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves complicate-bilobed, the upper lobe smaller, the lower succubous; margins entire or dentate or ciliate; underleaves none.

From Project Gutenberg

Leaves incubous, complicate-bilobed, each lobe divided and lacerately ciliate; underleaves 4–5-lobed, ciliate.

From Project Gutenberg