paramecium

[ par-uh-mee-shee-uhm, -shuhm, -see-uhm ]

noun

, plural par·a·me·ci·a [par-, uh, -, mee, -shee-, uh, -sh, uh, -see-, uh].

1. any ciliated freshwater protozoan of the genus Paramecium, having an oval body and a long, deep oral groove.

paramecium

/ ˌpærəˈmiːsɪəm /

noun

1. any freshwater protozoan of the genus Paramecium, having an oval body covered with cilia and a ventral ciliated groove for feeding: phylum Ciliophora (ciliates)

paramecium

/ păr′ə-mē′sē-əm /

, Plural paramecia

1. Any of various freshwater protozoans of the genus Paramecium that are usually oval in shape and that move by means of cilia. Although they consist of a single cell, paramecia are large enough to be visible to the naked eye. Like other ciliates, paramecia contain two nuclei, a macronucleus and a micronucleus. On the cellular surface is a groove that opens into a gullet, into which food particles are absorbed.

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramecium¹

1745–55; < New Latin < Greek paramḗk ( ēs ) oblong, oval + New Latin -ium noun suffix; -ium

Word History and Origins

Origin of paramecium¹

C18: New Latin, from Greek paramēkēs elongated, from para- ¹+ mēkos length

Example Sentences

The differences between paramecium, redwoods, and blue whales are easy to spot.

From The Daily Beast

The Paramecium are propagated by spontaneous division, as already described.

From Project Gutenberg

The neurone, however, is a little unicellular animal, like the amoeba or the paramecium.

From Project Gutenberg

Swimming vigorously in the water, they devote themselves to chasing the Paramecium.

From Project Gutenberg

Jennings found a number of races of paramecium of different sizes living under natural conditions.

From Project Gutenberg