1 animalcula | Definition of animalcula
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animalcule

noun
an路​i路​mal路​cule | \ 藢a-n蓹-藞mal-(藢)ky眉(蓹)l How to pronounce animalcule (audio) \
variants: or less commonly animalculum \ -​藞mal-​ky蓹-​l蓹m How to pronounce animalculum (audio) \
plural animalcules also animalcula\ -​ky蓹-​l蓹 How to pronounce animalcula (audio) \

Definition of animalcule

: a minute usually microscopic organism

Examples of animalcule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

 Van Leeuwenhoek estimated, correctly, that there were more animalcules swimming and creeping around in his mouth than there were people living in the Netherlands. — Jonathan Weiner, New York Times, "Book Review Newsletter," 15 Aug. 2016

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'animalcule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of animalcule

1662, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for animalcule

New Latin animalculum, diminutive of Latin animal

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More Definitions for animalcule

animalcule

noun
an路​i路​mal路​cule | \ 藢an-蓹-藞mal-(藢)ky眉(蓹)l How to pronounce animalcule (audio) \
variants: also animalculum \ -​藞mal-​ky蓹-​l蓹m How to pronounce animalculum (audio) \
plural animalcules also animalcula\ -​ky蓹-​l蓹 How to pronounce animalcula (audio) \

Medical Definition of animalcule

: a minute usually microscopic organism

More from Merriam-Webster on animalcule

Nglish: Translation of animalcule for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about animalcule

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