vorticella

/vɔːrtɪˈɛlə/

Definitions

1. noun

a genus of protozoan ciliates, typically with a spiral or cylindrical form, that capture prey using a rotating, hair-like structure called a cirrus.

“The researchers studied the behavior of vorticellas in a controlled laboratory environment.”

2. noun

a cell or organism belonging to the genus Vorticella.

“The vorticella was observed to be moving rapidly across the microscope slide.”

Synonyms

  • ciliate
  • protozoan

Antonyms

  • multicellular
  • non-ciliate