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protozoan
noun
pro·to·zo·an
ˌprō-tə-ˈzō-ən
: any of a phylum or subkingdom (Protozoa) of chiefly motile and heterotrophic unicellular protists (such as amoebas, trypanosomes, sporozoans, and paramecia) that are represented in almost every kind of habitat and include some pathogenic parasites of humans and domestic animals
protozoan
adjective
Examples of protozoan in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
This is why Darpa has tasked Rutgers with also engineering oysters resistant to dermo, a protozoan that’s dogged Atlantic oysters for decades.
—Saqib Rahim, WIRED, 11 Oct. 2024
By Racz’s desk sits a cardboard box of parasite stuffed animals featuring cartoonish lice, ticks and the protozoan that causes Chagas disease.
—Hannah Richter, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 July 2024
That can cause an imbalance in the oral microbiome (all the bacteria, fungi, viruses, and protozoans living in the mouth).
—Kaitlin Sullivan, Health, 11 July 2024
But once the fish had died, the remaining dinoflagellates started to circle the protozoan.
—Patrick Huyghe, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
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Word History
Etymology
New Latin Protozoa, from prot- + -zoa
First Known Use
circa 1864, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near protozoan
Cite this Entry
“Protozoan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protozoan. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
protozoan
noun
pro·to·zo·an
ˌprōt-ə-ˈzō-ən
: any of a phylum or group of microorganisms (as amoebas and paramecia) that are single-celled protists and have varied structure and physiology and often complicated life cycles
protozoan
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on protozoan
Nglish: Translation of protozoan for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protozoan
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