flagella

Variant of flagellum

flagellum definition

fla·gel·lum (flə jel′əm)

noun pl. flagella -·la (-ə) or flagellums -·lums

  1. a whip
  2. Biol. a whiplike part or process of some cells, esp. of certain bacteria, protozoans, etc., that is an organ of locomotion or produces a current in the surrounding fluid
  3. Bot. a threadlike shoot or runner
  4. Zool. the terminal, lashlike portion of the antenna in many insects

Etymology: L, a whip: see flagellate

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.