CILIATE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does ciliate mean? 

• CILIATE (noun)
  The noun CILIATE has 1 sense:

1. a protozoan with a microscopic appendage extending from the surface of the cell

  Familiarity information: CILIATE used as a noun is very rare.

• CILIATE (adjective)
  The adjective CILIATE has 3 senses:

1. of or relating to cilia projecting from the surface of a cell

2. of or relating to the human eyelash

3. having a margin or fringe of hairlike projections

  Familiarity information: CILIATE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CILIATE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A protozoan with a microscopic appendage extending from the surface of the cell

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

ciliate; ciliated protozoan; ciliophoran

Hypernyms ("ciliate" is a kind of...):

protozoan; protozoon (any of diverse minute acellular or unicellular organisms usually nonphotosynthetic)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "ciliate"):

infusorian (any member of the subclass Infusoria)

paramecia; paramecium (any member of the genus Paramecium)

tetrahymena (relative of the paramecium; often used in genetics research)

stentor (any of several trumpet-shaped ciliate protozoans that are members of the genus Stentor)

vorticella (any of various protozoa having a transparent goblet-shaped body with a retractile stalk)

Holonyms ("ciliate" is a member of...):

Ciliata; Ciliophora; class Ciliata; class Ciliophora (class of protozoa having cilia or hairlike appendages on part or all of the surface during some part of the life cycle)

• CILIATE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of or relating to cilia projecting from the surface of a cell

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

cilial; ciliary; ciliate

Pertainym:

cilium (a hairlike projection from the surface of a cell; provides locomotion in free-swimming unicellular organisms)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to the human eyelash

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Synonyms:

ciliary; ciliate

Pertainym:

cilium (any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Having a margin or fringe of hairlike projections

Synonyms:

ciliate; ciliated

Similar:

rough (of the margin of a leaf shape; having the edge cut or fringed or scalloped)