volvox

[vol-voks]

noun

any colonial, freshwater green algae of the genus Volvox, forming a hollow, greenish sphere of flagellated cells.

Origin of volvox

1790–1800; < New Latin, equivalent to Latin volv(ere) to turn, roll + -ōx (as in ferōx)

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for volvox

Historical Examples of volvox

In all of these the structure of the cells is essentially as in Volvox.
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany
Douglas Houghton Campbell
Of the forms that are united in colonies one of the best known is Volvox (Fig. 10).
Elements of Structural and Systematic Botany
Douglas Houghton Campbell
This, it is affirmed by Dr. Hicks, takes place in Volvox, under circumstances which suggest a vegetable transformation.
The Ocean World:
Louis Figuier
In some cases (Volvox) the cluster, or the compound plant, is round and moves briskly in the water, closely resembling an animal.
The Story of Evolution
Joseph McCabe
If a half-inch lens be now used, the structure of the volvox begins to be exhibited.
Every Boy's Book: A Complete Encyclopdia of Sports and Amusements
Various

British Dictionary definitions for volvox

volvox

noun

any freshwater flagellate protozoan of the genus Volvox, occurring in colonies in the form of hollow multicellular spheres

Word Origin for volvox

C18: from New Latin, from Latin volvere to roll

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

Word Origin and History for volvox

1798, from Latin volvere "to roll," from PIE root *wel- "to turn, revolve," with derivatives referring to curved, enclosing objects (cf. Sanskrit valate "turns round," ulvam "womb, vulva;" Lithuanian valtis "twine, net," apvalus "round;" Old Church Slavonic valiti "roll, welter," vluna "wave;" Greek eluo "wind, wrap," helix "spiral object," eilein "to turn, squeeze;" Gothic walwjan "to roll;" Old English wealwian "roll," weoloc "whelk, spiral-shelled mollusk;" Old High German walzan "to roll, waltz;" Old Irish fulumain "rolling;" Welsh olwyn "wheel").