animalculum

9.9

A tiny living creature that you can see only with a microscope, like an amoeba

noun
/ˌænɪˈmælkjʊləm/

Archaic

: animalículo

The term animalculum was once commonly used to refer to any tiny, living creature.

Examples

The animalculum was observed under a microscope.
An animalculum can reproduce rapidly in favorable conditions.
Early scientists observed animalcula in drops of pond water using crude microscopes.
Researchers described the astonishing movements of each animalculum under the microscope.
Under the microscope, the animalculum moved gracefully through the water, showcasing its unique structure.
During the science lab, we observed an animalculum that resembled a tiny, single-celled creature.
The student marveled at the animalculum, noting the differences between it and larger organisms.

Synonyms

microzooid

vsanimalculum

Specialized

5 9.9

A very small animal that lives in water or in a colony

is more specific to microscopic single protozoan organisms rather than small animals

protozoan

vsanimalculum

Specialized

2 7.9

A very small single-celled organism often found in water or soil that can cause disease

is broader and refers to microscopic organisms not only single-celled

animalcule

vsanimalculum

Archaic

9.9

A very small single-celled creature that you can see with a microscope, like an amoeba

is the same meaning but uses a different word ending

microfauna

vsanimalculum

Specialized

8.9

Very small animals that you can only see with a microscope

refers to a single microscopic organism rather than a group term

Surface Forms

animalculum singular

animalcula plural

Etymology

Animalculum comes from the Latin word animal meaning 'living creature' and the small ending -culum, so it literally means 'little animal'. Early scientists used animalculum for the tiny creatures they saw under a microscope, so today it means a very small living thing you can only see with a microscope.