infusorian

9.9

A very small water creature seen only with a microscope that moves with tiny hairs

noun
/ɪnˈfjuːzəriən/

Archaic

: infusorio

Under the microscope, scientists observed various infusorians swimming through the water.

Examples

Natural pond water is often home to a variety of infusorians and other microorganisms.
An infusorian is often found in freshwater environments.
Some aquarists use infusorians as the first food for young fish.
Under the microscope, the culture teemed with numerous infusorians darting about.
The scientist studied the infusorian under a microscope.
The teacher explained how infusorians are crucial for understanding aquatic ecosystems.
Studies of infusorians can reveal important insights into the evolution of microscopic life.

Synonyms

ciliate

vsinfusorian

Specialized

1 9.9

A single-celled organism with tiny hairs used to move and feed

is an individual placed in a former taxonomic group mainly made of such organisms

ciliated protozoan

vsinfusorian

Specialized

7.9

A single cell living thing that uses tiny hairs to move and eat

is the organism identified as part of a former group of these protozoans

Infusoria

vsinfusorian

Archaic

9.9

Tiny single-celled creatures in pond or aquarium water you can see under a microscope

is an individual member of that old group rather than the group term itself

Surface Forms

infusorian singular

infusorians plural

Morphology

infusorian = infusoria (opaque) = infusoria + ian

The term is a scientific borrowing and the relation to more familiar English items (e.g., 'infuse' or 'infusion') is not productive or obvious to typical learners.

Etymology

Infusorian comes from the same root as infuse, from Latin infundere meaning 'to pour in'. Scientists first found these tiny creatures in 'infusions' of water and plant bits, so an infusorian is a very small organism that lives in such water.