Cilium

3 definitions found

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

  Cilia \Cil"i*a\, n. pl. {Cilium}, the sing., is rarely used. [L.
     cilium eyelid.]
     1. (Anat.) The eyelashes.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Biol.) Small, generally microscopic, vibrating appendages


        lining certain organs, as the air passages of the higher
        animals, and in the lower animals often covering also the
        whole or a part of the exterior. They are also found on
        some vegetable organisms. In the Infusoria, and many
        larval forms, they are locomotive organs.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Bot.) Hairlike processes, commonly marginal and forming a
        fringe like the eyelash.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     4. (Zool.) Small, vibratory, swimming organs, somewhat
        resembling true cilia, as those of Ctenophora.
        [1913 Webster]

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

  Cilium \Cil"i*um\, n. [L., eyelid.]
     See {Cilia}.
     [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  cilium
       n 1: a hairlike projection from the surface of a cell; provides
            locomotion in free-swimming unicellular organisms
       2: any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of
          the eyelids [syn: {eyelash}, {lash}]
       [also: {cilia} (pl)]