gregarine

[ greg-uh-rahyn, -er-in ]

noun

1. a type of sporozoan parasite that inhabits the digestive and other cavities of various invertebrates and produces cysts filled with spores.

adjective

1. having the characteristics of or pertaining to a gregarine or gregarines.

gregarine

/ -rɪn; ˈɡrɛɡəˌriːn /

noun

1. any parasitic protozoan of the order Gregarinida, typically occurring in the digestive tract and body cavity of other invertebrates: phylum Apicomplexa (sporozoans)

adjective

1. of, relating to, or belonging to the Gregarinida

Word History and Origins

Origin of gregarine¹

1865–70; < New Latin Gregarina name of type, equivalent to Latin gregār ( ius ) ( gregarious ) + -īna -ine ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of gregarine¹

C19: from New Latin Gregarīna genus name, from Latin gregārius; see gregarious

Example Sentences

In a private communication, however, the author states that he has probably mistaken phases in the development of an ordinary gregarine parasite in the louse for part of the life-cycle of this Haemogregarine.

From Project Gutenberg