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protozoan

protozoan

8.1
Relating to very small single cells that act like tiny animals
  • adjective
  • /ˌproʊtəˈzoʊən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : protozoico
  • A bacterial, viral, or protozoan etiology was identified in 51 outbreaks (41 percent) (Table 2).

Examples

  • I think the infection is protozoan.

  • Protozoan cysts and oocysts are generally more resistant than vegetative bacteria or even viruses to disinfection and adverse environmental factors (Bitton, 2005).

    Academic text (2006)
  • The doctor explained that the illness was due to a protozoan infection.

  • In many tropical regions, protozoan diseases threaten public health.

  • The laboratory focused on researching the effects of protozoan pathogens on aquatic life.

Synonyms

protozoic
vsprotozoan
  • Specialized
9.9

Relating to very small living things made of one cell seen with a microscope

is the more general descriptive form for the same relation
protozoal
vsprotozoan
  • Specialized
9.9

Used to describe infections caused by very small single cells that live in water or inside people

is broader covering any relation to those organisms not only diseases

Compounds

ciliated protozoan
  • Specialized
7.9

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

flagellate protozoan
  • Specialized
9.2

A single-cell creature that moves with tail-like parts and can cause disease in people

flagellated protozoan
  • Specialized
8.5

A one-celled organism that moves with whip-like tails and can cause disease in animals or people

Surface Forms

protozoan positive

Morphology

protozoan = protozoa (semi-transparent) = protozoa + n

The adjective is formed regularly from the technical base word 'protozoa', but the term is specialized scientific vocabulary.

Etymology

The word protozoan comes from proto- 'first' and zoon 'animal', the same 'zoo' you know from 'zoology'. So calling something protozoan means it belongs to the 'first' or most basic animals, which fits tiny, single-celled organisms.