pro·to·zo·an  (pr ō′t ə-z ōən) also pro·to·zo·on (- ŏn ′)
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n. pl. pro·to·zo·ans or pro·to·zo·a (-z ōə) also pro·to·zo·ons Any of numerous chiefly single-celled eukaryotic organisms, most of which move about freely and ingest food, including the amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and apicomplexans. Protozoans along with certain algae, oomycetes, and some other groups make up the protists.
[From New Latin Prōtozōa, former subkingdom name : PROTO- + -zōa, pl. of -zōon, -zoon.]
pro′to·zoan, pro′to·zoal, pro′to·zoic adj. |