protozoan

[ proh-tuh-zoh-uhn ]

noun

, plural pro·to·zo·ans, (especially collectively) pro·to·zo·a [proh-t, uh, -, zoh, -, uh].

1. any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular, existing singly or aggregating into colonies, are usually nonphotosynthetic, and are often classified further into phyla according to their capacity for and means of motility, as by pseudopods, flagella, or cilia.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a protozoan.

protozoan

/ ˌprəʊtəˈzəʊən /

noun

1. Also calledprotozoonˌprəʊtəˈzəʊɒn -zoa any of various minute unicellular organisms formerly regarded as invertebrates of the phylum Protozoa but now usually classified in certain phyla of protoctists. Protozoans include flagellates, ciliates, sporozoans, amoebas, and foraminifers

adjective

1. of or relating to protozoans

protozoan

/ prō′tə-zō′ən /

, Plural protozoans

1. Any of a large group of one-celled organisms (called protists) that live in water or as parasites. Many protozoans move about by means of appendages known as cilia or flagella. Protozoans include the amoebas, flagellates, foraminiferans, and ciliates. Their traditional classification as the subkingdom Protozoa is still used for convenience, but it is now known that protozoans represent several evolutionarily distinct groups.
2. See more at protist

Word History and Origins

Origin of protozoan¹

First recorded in 1860–65; Protozo(a) + -an

Word History and Origins

Origin of protozoan¹

C19: via New Latin from Greek proto- + zoion animal

Example Sentences

It’s strong enough to show your budding biologist protozoa, cell walls, bacteria, and more.

From Popular-Science

Horses, sheep, dogs, and other animals are also affected with diseases caused by the same group of Protozoan parasites.

From Project Gutenberg

This disease is caused by a Protozoan parasite, a trypanosome, which is transmitted from one host to another by the tsetse-fly.

From Project Gutenberg

The shelly agglomerates of these Protozoan Rhizopods constitute now very important rocks.

From Project Gutenberg

Naturally in the early protozoan colonies, and in forms like hydra, these functions predominated.

From Project Gutenberg

This is the blastula stage occurring universally in all Metazoa, probably representing an ancestral Protozoan colony in phylogeny.

From Project Gutenberg