Protozoa
[ proh-tuh-zoh-uh ]
/ ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ə /
noun
a major grouping or superphylum of the kingdom Protista, comprising the protozoans.
RELATED WORDS
cell, flagellate, organism, plasmodium, ameba, euglena, paramecium, ciliate, amoeba, sporozoan, stentor
Origin of Protozoa
protozoan
[ proh-tuh-zoh-uh n ]
/ ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ən /
noun, plural pro·to·zo·ans, (especially collectively) pro·to·zo·a [proh-tuh-zoh-uh] /ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ə/.
any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular, existing singly or aggregating into colonies, are usually nonphotosynthetic, and are often classified further into phyla according to their capacity for and means of motility, as by pseudopods, flagella, or cilia.
adjective
of, relating to, or characteristic of a protozoan.
Origin of protozoan
protozoon
[ proh-tuh-zoh-on, -uh n ]
/ ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ɒn, -ən /
noun, plural pro·to·zo·a [proh-tuh-zoh-uh] /ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ə/.
Origin of protozoon
singular of Protozoa
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Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for protozoa
protozoan
/ (ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊən) /
noun plural -zoa (-ˈzəʊə) or -zoans
Also called: protozoon (ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊɒn) plural -zoa any of various minute unicellular organisms formerly regarded as invertebrates of the phylum Protozoa but now usually classified in certain phyla of protoctists. Protozoans include flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, amoebas, and foraminifers
adjective Also: protozoic
of or relating to protozoans
Word Origin for protozoan
C19: via New Latin from Greek proto- + zoion animal
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
Protozoa
1828, from Modern Latin Protozoa, coined 1818 by German zoologist Georg August Goldfuss (1782-1848) from Greek protos "first" (see proto-) + zoia, plural of zoion "animal" (see zoo). Originally including sponges and corals; current sense is from 1845. Related: Protozoon (aingular); Protozoan.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
protozoa
[ prō′tə-zō′ə ]
n.
Plural ofprotozoan
protozoan
[ prō′tə-zō′ən ]
n. pl. pro•to•zo•a (-zō′ə)
Any of a group of single-celled, usually microscopic, eukaryotic organisms, such as amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
protozoan
[ prō′tə-zō′ən ]
Plural protozoans protozoa
Any of a large group of one-celled organisms (called protists) that live in water or as parasites. Many protozoans move about by means of appendages known as cilia or flagella. Protozoans include the amoebas, flagellates, foraminiferans, and ciliates. Their traditional classification as the subkingdom Protozoa is still used for convenience, but it is now known that protozoans represent several evolutionarily distinct groups. See more at protist.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
protozoa
[ (proh-tuh-zoh-uh) ]
Single-celled animals, such as amoebas, that are the most primitive form of animal life. In modern biology, they are classified in the kingdom of Protoctista rather than in the animal kingdom. (See Linnean classification.)
Note
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.