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vorticella

(vôrt′ə sel′ə)

any of a genus (Vorticella) of one-celled ciliates living in water, with a bell-shaped body on a thin, contractile stem serving as a holdfast

Origin: ModL, dim. < L vortex: see vortex

See vorticella in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. vor·ti·cel·lae (-sĕlˈē) or vor·ti·cel·las

Any of various ciliate protozoans of the genus Vorticella, having a bell-shaped body and living underwater on a slender stalk often attached to a plant or other object.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin Vorticella, genus name

Origin: , from Latin vortex, vortic-, vortex; see vortex

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