cilium

American  

[sil-ee-uhm] / ˈsɪl i əm /

noun

1. singular of cilia.

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cilium British  

/ ˈsɪlɪəm /

noun

1. any of the short thread-like projections on the surface of a cell, organism, etc, whose rhythmic beating causes movement of the organism or of the surrounding fluid

2. the technical name for eyelash

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cilium Scientific  

/ sĭl′ē-əm /

plural

cilia

1. A tiny hairlike projection on the surface of some cells and microscopic organisms, especially protozoans. Cilia are capable of whipping motions and are used by some microorganisms, such as paramecia, for movement. Cilia lining the human respiratory tract act to remove foreign matter from air before it reaches the lungs.

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Etymology

Origin of cilium

From Latin

Example Sentences

Scientists have long known that abnormalities in a structure on kidney cells, or the primary cilium, cause cysts to form in kidneys.

From Science Daily • Apr. 8, 2024

Depending on its position, a cilium can be more effected by its neighbor than vice versa, especially in a dense carpet of cilia as it frequently occurs in nature.

From Science Daily • Sep. 29, 2023

One tiny flick of a microscopic cellular hair, known as a cilium, can’t do much on its own.

From Scientific American • Jul. 11, 2022

He points out that Dogic's group created something that looks and acts very much like a cilium or flagellum with its multitude of proteins — but that may, in fact, work very differently.

From Nature • Jan. 4, 2016

D. A motile rodlet with one cilium and with a spore formed inside.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 3, Part 1, Slice 2 "Baconthorpe" to "Bankruptcy" by Various

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