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animalcule

noun
an·​i·​mal·​cule | \ ˌa-nə-ˈmal-(ˌ)kyü(ə)l How to pronounce animalcule (audio) \
variants: or less commonly animalculum \ -​ˈmal-​kyə-​ləm How to pronounce animalculum (audio) \
plural animalcules also animalcula\ -​kyə-​lə 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

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·​i·​mal·​cule | \ ˌan-ə-ˈmal-(ˌ)kyü(ə)l How to pronounce animalcule (audio) \
variants: also animalculum \ -​ˈmal-​kyə-​ləm How to pronounce animalculum (audio) \
plural animalcules also animalcula\ -​kyə-​lə How to pronounce animalcula (audio) \

Medical Definition of animalcule

: a minute usually microscopic organism

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