Advertisement

Advertisement

contractile vacuole

noun

, Cell Biology.
  1. a membrane-enveloped cellular organelle, found in many microorganisms, that periodically expands, filling with water, and then contracts, expelling its contents to the cell exterior: thought to be important in maintaining hydrostatic equilibrium.


Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of contractile vacuole1

First recorded in 1875–80

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


contractilecontractility