prokaryote Hear it!

prokaryote definition

pro·kary·ote (prō kar′ē ōt′)

noun

an organism lacking a true nucleus: in some systems of biological classification, any of a superkingdom (Prokaryotae) of organisms, including the viruses and monerans
cf. eukaryote

Etymology: < Gr pro-, before + karyōtis: see eukaryote

Related Forms:

  • prokaryotic pro·kar′·y·ot′·ic (-ät′ik) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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