Mastigophora

American

[mas-ti-gof-er-uh] / ˌmæs tɪˈgɒf ər ə /

noun

a phylum of protozoans comprising nonphotosynthetic, chiefly free-living flagellates: some species are important pathogens of humans and other animals.

Etymology

Origin of Mastigophora

< New Latin (neuter plural) < Greek mastīgophóros whip-bearing, equivalent to mastīg-, stem of mástix whip + -o- -o- + -phoros -phore. See mastigium, -phorous

Example Sentences

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This genus is exceptional among Mastigophora in that division is transverse instead of longitudinal.

From Marine Protozoa from Woods Hole Bulletin of the United States Fish Commission 21:415-468, 1901 by Calkins, Gary N. (Gary Nathan)

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023