Animalcule

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Animalcule \An`i*mal"cule\, n. [As if fr. a L. animalculum, dim.
     of animal.]
     1. A small animal, as a fly, spider, etc. [Obs.] --Ray.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Zool.) An animal, invisible, or nearly so, to the naked


        eye. See {Infusoria}.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: Many of the so-called animalcules have been shown to be
           plants, having locomotive powers something like those
           of animals. Among these are {Volvox}, the
           {Desmidiac[ae]}, and the siliceous {Diatomace[ae]}.
           [1913 Webster]
  
     {Spermatic animalcules}. See {Spermatozoa}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  animalcule
       n : microscopic organism such as an amoeba or paramecium [syn: {animalculum}]