Infusoria
Americanplural noun
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protozoans of the phylum Ciliophora (or class Ciliata).
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(formerly) any of various microscopic organisms found in infusions of decaying organic matter.
Etymology
Origin of Infusoria
1780–90; < New Latin, neuter plural of infūsōrius. See infuse, -ory 1
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.
The highest of the group are the animalcules, which are named Infusoria, most of which are freely swimming organisms, though a certain number of them live fixed to some supporting body.
From The Contemporary Review, Volume 36, September 1879 by Various
The most imperfect animals, such as the Infusoria, especially the monads, are nourished by absorption and by “an internal inhibition of absorbed matters.”
From Lamarck, the Founder of Evolution His Life and Work by Packard, A. S. (Alpheus Spring)
Ehrenberg has estimated that of the Bilin polishing slate which caps the mountain, and has a thickness of forty feet, a cubic inch contains many hundred million shells of Infusoria.
From The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In by Lubbock, John, Sir
Infusoria and other unicellular animals multiply by division.
From The Beauties of Nature and the Wonders of the World We Live In by Lubbock, John, Sir
"Infusoria" meant: "We expect you to act on this advice at once, and we cannot be responsible for expenditure beyond what is strictly necessary to wind up."
From Second String by Hope, Anthony
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
