Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
1
9.2
- proper noun
- The microscope designs improved by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek enabled scientists to see bacteria for the first time.
Examples
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Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is often called the 'Father of Microbiology' due to his groundbreaking discoveries.
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The work of Antonie van Leeuwenhoek revolutionized our understanding of microorganisms.
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Students learned about Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and his observations of blood cells in their biology class.
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Did Antonie van Leeuwenhoek really discover bacteria?
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Antonie van Leeuwenhoek is often called the 'Father of Microbiology' due to his groundbreaking discoveries.
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Students learned about Antonie van Leeuwenhoek and his observations of blood cells in their biology class.
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The microscope designs improved by Antonie van Leeuwenhoek enabled scientists to see bacteria for the first time.
Synonyms
1
9.9
A Dutch scientist known as the first person to use a microscope to see tiny living things
A Dutch scientist who used small microscopes to see tiny living things like bacteria, sperm cells, and blood cells
A scientist from the Netherlands who first looked at tiny living things like cells and bacteria with a microscope
Surface Forms
Morphology
Antonie + van + Leeuwenhoek
This is a referential proper name for a historical individual; the identity and biographical information (a pioneer of microscopy) cannot be derived from its constituent parts. Knowing 'van' as a Dutch name particle or recognising 'Leeuwenhoek' as a surname does not allow a B1 learner to infer his role or significance, so the expression is opaque.
Etymology
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek was a Dutch man in the 1600s who made tiny glass lenses and simple microscopes and looked at pond water and teeth, where he saw tiny living things like bacteria for the first time. That's why he is often called the 'Father of Microbiology' — his work let people see life that was too small to notice before.