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rheotaxis

American

[ree-uh-tak-sis] / ˌri əˈtæk sɪs /

noun

Biology.

oriented movement of an organism in response to a current of fluid, especially water.

rheotaxis British

/ ˌriːəˈtæksɪs, ˌriːəˈtæktɪk /

noun

movement of an organism towards or away from a current of water

"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

Other Word Forms

rheotactic

adjective

Etymology

Origin of rheotaxis

First recorded in 1895–1900; rheo- + -taxis

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

This flow helps prevent pathogens from invading the reproductive tract by flushing them down and simultaneously selects sperm capable of swimming against the flow toward the egg via a phenomenon known as rheotaxis.

From Science Daily • Nov. 1, 2023

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