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protozoan

[ proh-tuh-zoh-uhn ]
/ ˌproʊ təˈzoʊ ən /
Biology
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See synonyms for: protozoan / protozoa on Thesaurus.com

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.
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Origin of protozoan

First recorded in 1860–65; Protozo(a) + -an
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use protozoan in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for protozoan

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

Scientific definitions for protozoan

protozoan
[ prō′tə-zōən ]

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.
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