Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
nonmotile

nonmotile

8.3
Cells or tiny living things that cannot move by themselves
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒnˈmoʊtaɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : no motil
  • Unlike their motile counterparts, the nonmotile cells were unable to swim towards food sources.

Examples

  • The three isolates from these patients, HKU36-38, were nonmotile, oxidase-positive, non-glucose-fermenting, gram-negative bacilli.

    Academic text (2015)

  • The nonmotile, gram-positive, and catalase-positive microorganisms were individually stabbed into tubes containing methyl red agar (with added glucose).

    Academic text (1993)

  • The bacteria found in the sample were nonmotile, meaning they could not move on their own.

  • In the laboratory, the nonmotile microorganisms required nutrients from their environment to survive.

Synonyms

immobile
vsnonmotile
14 4.4

Not able to move or be moved, like a statue

is about lacking ability to move by itself not being physically stuck
immotile
vsnonmotile
  • Specialized
9.9

Unable to move on its own, for example cells or tiny living things

is not capable of movement generally rather than specifying self propelled action
nonmobile
vsnonmotile
6.5

Unable to move or be moved easily

is about lacking self movement rather than being hard to move by others

Antonyms

motile
  • Specialized
1 8.6

Able to move by itself, like bacteria or sperm cells

How Mobile

motile
  • Specialized
1 8.6
nonmotile
  • Specialized
8.3

Surface Forms

nonmotile positive

Morphology

nonmotile = motile (transparent) = non + motile

The adjective is a straightforward negation formed with the productive prefix 'non-', so knowing 'motile' allows deriving 'nonmotile'.

Etymology

Nonmotile combines non- ('not') and motile from a root that means 'to move', the same root you see in motion and motor. So nonmotile means 'not able to move', often used for cells or spores that stay still.