paramecium

noun

par·a·me·cium | \ ˌper-ə-ˈmē-sh(ē-)əm

, -sē-əm, ˌpa-rə-\

plural paramecia\ ˌper-ə-ˈmē-sh(ē-)ə

, -sē-ə , ˌpa-rə- \ also parameciums

Definition of paramecium

: any of a genus (Paramecium) of ciliate chiefly freshwater protozoans that have an elongate body rounded at the anterior end and an oblique funnel-shaped buccal groove bearing the mouth at the extremity

History and Etymology for paramecium

borrowed from New Latin Paramecium, pre-Linnaean name for protozoa of the genus, from Greek paramḗkēs "oblong, oval" (from para- para- entry 1 + -mēkēs, adjective corresponding to mêkos "length, height, magnitude") + New Latin -ium -ium — more at meager

Note: The name Paramecium was introduced, in both Latin descriptions and English descriptions maintaining the Latin coinage Paramecium, by the English polymath John Hill (ca. 1714-1775) in An History of Animals (London, 1752, vol. 3 of his A General Natural History), p. 4. The word was first used as a Linnaean genus name by Otto Frederik Müller in Vermivm terrestrium et fluviatilium, seu, Animalium infusoriorum…succincta historia, vol. 1 (Copenhagen & Leipzig, 1773), p. 54 (spelled unetymologically Paramæcium, corrected in later publications).

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More Definitions for paramecium

paramecium

noun

par·a·me·cium | \ ˌper-ə-ˈmē-shē-əm

, -sē-əm\

plural paramecia\ -shē-ə , -sē-ə \ also parameciums

Kids Definition of paramecium

: a tiny living thing found in water that is a single cell shaped like a slipper and moves by means of cilia

paramecium

noun

par·a·me·cium | \ ˌpar-ə-ˈmē-sh(ē-)əm, -sē-əm

Medical Definition of paramecium

1 capitalized : a genus of ciliate protozoans that have an elongate body rounded at the anterior end and an oblique funnel-shaped buccal groove bearing the mouth at the extremity

2 plural paramecia\ -sh(ē-)ə, -sē-ə

\ also parameciums : any ciliate protozoan of the genus Paramecium

paramecium

Definition of paramecium

First Known Use of paramecium

History and Etymology for paramecium

Kids Definition of paramecium

Medical Definition of paramecium

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