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Glite Dictionary
immotile

immotile

9.9
Unable to move on its own, for example cells or tiny living things
  • adjective
  • /ˈɪməˌtaɪl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : inmóvil
  • The bacteria are immotile in this environment.

Examples

  • The bacteria in this sample are immotile and remain fixed under the microscope.

  • Researchers observed that the mutant spores were completely immotile in liquid culture.

  • Because they are immotile, these sperm cells cannot fertilize an egg.

  • Some immotile spores can survive harsh conditions.

  • The immotile bacteria were unable to escape from the contaminated environment.

  • In the lab, we observed the immotile cells under the microscope, noting their lack of movement.

  • The spores remained immotile until conditions became favorable for growth.

Synonyms

immobile
vsimmotile
14 4.4

Not able to move or be moved, like a statue

means lacking self movement rather than being unable to be moved by others
nonmotile
vsimmotile
  • Specialized
8.3

Cells or tiny living things that cannot move by themselves

is about lacking self motion not about being fixed by outside forces
nonmobile
vsimmotile
6.5

Unable to move or be moved easily

focuses on lacking own movement ability rather than difficulty being moved

Antonyms

motile
  • Specialized
1 8.6

Able to move by itself, like bacteria or sperm cells

How Mobile

motile
  • Specialized
1 8.6
sluggish
30 3.9
immotile
  • Specialized
9.9

Surface Forms

immotile positive

Morphology

immotile = motile (semi-transparent) = im + motile

Formation is a straightforward negative prefixation (im- + motile), but 'motile' is technical biological vocabulary so learners unfamiliar with it may not infer the meaning.

Etymology

The word immotile comes from Latin parts in- meaning 'not' and motile, which is from the same root as move and motion meaning 'move'. So immotile means 'not able to move', which is why scientists use it for cells or tiny organisms that cannot move on their own.