basal body

noun

, Cell Biology.

1. a cylindrical organelle, within the cytoplasm of flagellated and ciliated cells, that contains microtubules and forms the base of a flagellum or cilium: identical in internal structure to a centriole.

Word History and Origins

Origin of basal body¹

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

Natural Cycles is a popular fertility-tracking app that relies on an algorithm that calculates the days of the month a woman is likely to be fertile based on basal body temperature readings and menstrual cycle data.

From Time