polymastigote
- noun
- /ˌpɒlɪˈmæstɪɡoʊt/
- Specialized
- The polymastigote is known for its multiple flagella.
Examples
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The polymastigote moves rapidly thanks to its many flagella.
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Many polymastigotes thrive in aquatic environments.
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Researchers identified the organism as a polymastigote under the microscope.
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Some polymastigotes are important in studying protozoan diversity.
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Researchers identified the organism as a polymastigote under the microscope.
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The polymastigote moves rapidly thanks to its many flagella.
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Many polymastigotes thrive in aquatic environments.
Synonyms
A tiny living thing made of one cell that moves with whip-like tails
A one-celled organism that moves with whip-like tails and can cause disease in animals or people
A single-cell creature that moves with tail-like parts and can cause disease in people
A single-celled organism that moves using whiplike tails and sometimes causes disease in people
A single-celled animal that has whip-like tails and can cause disease in people or animals
A cell with one or more long tails it uses to move
A tiny single-celled animal-like creature with a tail for movement that does not make its own food
A tiny single-celled animal-like creature that swims with a tail-like part and absorbs food
Relating to very small single cells that act like tiny animals
Surface Forms
Morphology
polymastigote = mastigote (opaque) = poly + mastigote
Although poly- clearly means 'many', the remaining technical stem is specialized and the full meaning is not readily recoverable for an average learner.
Etymology
Polymastigote joins poly- 'many', as in polygon, and mastig- 'whip', so imagine a tiny creature with many 'whip-like' tails. That's why a polymastigote is a protozoan that moves using many flagella.