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infusorian

[in-fyoo-sawr-ee-uh n, -sohr-]
noun
  1. any of the Infusoria.
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adjective
  1. infusorial.
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Origin of infusorian

First recorded in 1855–60; Infusori(a) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for infusorian

Historical Examples

  • In fact, the infusorian simply swallows whatever happens to hit his mouth.

    Natural Wonders

    Edwin Tenney Brewster

  • So far as we can see, therefore, everything that the infusorian feels at all, feels to him exactly like everything else.

    Natural Wonders

    Edwin Tenney Brewster

  • Thus the plant, that seems to know two things, is twice as well off as the infusorian that knows only one.

    Natural Wonders

    Edwin Tenney Brewster

  • The exchange of life-elements between two individuals is well illustrated in the case of the infusorian Noctiluca.

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

    Degeneracy

    Eugene S. Talbot

British Dictionary definitions for infusorian

infusorian

noun obsolete
  1. any of the microscopic organisms, such as protozoans and rotifers, found in infusions of organic material
  2. any member of the subclass CiliataSee ciliate (def. 3)
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adjective
  1. of or relating to infusorians
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Derived Formsinfusorial, adjective

Word Origin

C18: from New Latin Infusoria former class name; see infuse
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012