protozoons

Variant of protozoan

protozoan definition

proto·zoan (prōt′ə zō′ən)

noun

pl. protozoans -·zo′·ans or protozoa -·zo′a (-ə) any of a subkingdom (Protozoa) of microscopic animals made up of a single cell or a group of more or less identical cells and living in water or as parasites, including ciliates, flagellates, rhizopods, and sporozoans
sometimes protozoon pro′to·zo′on′ (-än′)

Etymology: < ModL Protozoa, name of the phylum (see proto- & -zoa) + -an

adjective

of the protozoans
often protozoic pro′to·zo′ic (-ik) or protozoal pro′to·zo′al

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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