archaeon

American  

[ahr-kee-ahn, ahr-kay-ahn] / ɑrˈki ɑn, ɑrˈkeɪ ɑn /

noun

plural

archaeons

1. any member of the domain Archaea, single-celled microorganisms similar to bacteria but having distinct structural and genetic characteristics.

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archaeon Scientific  

/ är′kē-ŏn′ /

plural

archaea

1. Any of a group of microorganisms that resemble bacteria but are different from them in their genetic makeup and certain aspects of their cell structure, such as the composition of their cell walls. Archaea usually live in extreme, often very hot or salty environments, such as hot mineral springs or deep-sea hydrothermal vents, but some are also found in animal digestive systems. The archaea are considered a separate domain in some classifications, but a division of the prokaryotes (Monera) in others. Some scientists believe that archaea were the earliest forms of cellular life.

2. Also called archaebacterium

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Other Word Forms

• archaeal adjective