rotifer
noun
ro·ti·fer
| \ ˈrō-tə-fər
\
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Definition of rotifer
: any of a class (Rotifera of the phylum Aschelminthes) of minute usually microscopic but many-celled chiefly freshwater aquatic invertebrates having the anterior end modified into a retractile disk bearing circles of strong cilia that often give the appearance of rapidly revolving wheels
Examples of rotifer in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Video: Commonly known as wheel animals, rotifers feed by means of a ring of slender projections called cilia, which appear to spin like a propeller as the animal draws in water filled with a meal of dead bacteria, algae and other detritus. — Quanta Magazine, "Ancient Survivors Could Redefine Sex," 19 Nov. 2014 Shain says samples of the Icelandic rotifers were frozen at -80 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks and recovered just fine. — Joel Sartore, National Geographic, "Snow Day! 8 Surprisingly Snow-Loving Animals," 21 Jan. 2017 That’s just warm enough that the ice worms and rotifers don’t freeze. — Joel Sartore, National Geographic, "Snow Day! 8 Surprisingly Snow-Loving Animals," 21 Jan. 2017 Shain says samples of the Icelandic rotifers were frozen at -80 degrees Fahrenheit for weeks and recovered just fine. — Joel Sartore, National Geographic, "Snow Day! 8 Surprisingly Snow-Loving Animals," 21 Jan. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'rotifer.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for rotifer
rotifer
noun
ro·ti·fer
| \ ˈrōt-ə-fər
\
\
Medical Definition of rotifer
: any member of the class Rotifera