vorticella

vorticella Definition

vor·ti·cella (vôrt′ə sel′ə)

noun pl. -·cel′·lae-ē

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

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

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