Protozoa

5 definitions found

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

  Protozoa \Pro`to*zo"a\, n. pl. [NL., fr. Gr. ? first + zo^,on an
     animal.] (Zool.)
     The lowest of the grand divisions of the animal kingdom.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     Note: The entire animal consists of a single cell which is


           variously modified; but in many species a number of
           these simple zooids are united together so as to form a
           compound body or organism, as in the Foraminifera and
           Vorticell[ae]. The reproduction takes place by fission,
           or by the breaking up of the contents of the body after
           encystment, each portion becoming a distinct animal, or
           in other ways, but never by true eggs. The principal
           divisions are Rhizopoda, Gregarin[ae], and Infusoria.
           See also {Foraminifera}, {Heliozoa}, {Protoplasta},
           {Radiolaria}, {Flagellata}, {Ciliata}.
           [1913 Webster]

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

  Protozoon \Pro`to*zo"["o]n\ (-[o^]n), n.; pl. {Protozoa}. [NL.]
     (Zool.)
        (a) One of the Protozoa.
        (b) A single zooid of a compound protozoan.
            [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  Protozoa
       n : in some classifications considered a superphylum or a
           subkingdom; comprises flagellates; ciliates; sporozoans;
           amoebas; foraminifers [syn: {phylum Protozoa}]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  protozoan
       adj : of or relating to the Protozoa [syn: {protozoal}, {protozoic}]
       n : any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms
           usually nonphotosynthetic [syn: {protozoon}]
       [also: {protozoa} (pl)]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  protozoa
       See {protozoan}