infusorian

American  

[in-fyoo-sawr-ee-uhn, -sohr-] / ˌɪn fyʊˈsɔr i ən, -ˈsoʊr- /

noun

1. any of the Infusoria.

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adjective

1. infusorial.

infusorian British  

/ ˌɪnfjʊˈzɔːrɪən /

noun

1. any of the microscopic organisms, such as protozoans and rotifers, found in infusions of organic material

2. any member of the subclass Ciliata See ciliate

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adjective

1. of or relating to infusorians

Other Word Forms

• infusorial adjective

Etymology

Origin of infusorian

First recorded in 1855–60; Infusori(a) + -an

Example Sentences

These ganglia are the brain of this infusorian.

From The Dawn of Reason or, Mental Traits in the Lower Animals by Weir, James

And it may be asked what advantage, as far as we can see, would it be to an infusorian animalcule—to an intestinal worm—or even to an earth-worm, to be highly organised.

From The Origin of Species by means of Natural Selection, 6th Edition by Darwin, Charles

Paramecium, par-a-mē′si-um, n. an infusorian in pond water or vegetable infusions—also Slipper Animalcule:—pl.

From Chambers's Twentieth Century Dictionary (part 3 of 4: N-R) by Various

This has been shown by the careful experiments of Maupas, who had observed 215 generations of an infusorian without sexual union.

From Degeneracy Its Causes, Signs and Results by Talbot, Eugene S.

And it may be asked what advantage, as far as we can see, would it be to an infusorian animalcule—to an intestinal worm, or even to an earthworm—to be highly organized.

From Introduction to the Science of Sociology by Park, Robert Ezra