paramecium Hear it!

paramecium Definition

para·meci·um (par′ə mē′sē əm, -s̸hē əm)

noun pl. -·cia--ə

any of a genus (Paramecium) of one-celled, elongated, slipper-shaped ciliates moving by means of cilia and having a backward-curving oral groove that ends with the mouth

Etymology: ModL < Gr paramēkēs, oval < para-, para- + mēkos, length, akin to makros, long: see macro-

paramecium Usage Examples

Adjective modifier

  • protozoan: He used flasks of different species of the protozoan Paramecium, which eats bacteria.

Modifies a noun

  • bursaria: I have been visiting the High Meadow for several year, following the seasonal changes in its normally enormous colonies of Paramecium bursaria.
  • caudatum: Finally, I will delve into my own work that applies these ideas to the movements of the single-celled ciliated protozoa, Paramecium caudatum.

Noun used with modifier

  • genus: How does one find out that P. bursaria does indeed belong in the genus Paramecium?