trypanosome

[ trih-pan-uh-sohm, trip-uh-nuh- ]

noun
  1. any minute, flagellate protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, parasitic in the blood or tissues of humans and other vertebrates, usually transmitted by insects, often causing serious diseases, as African sleeping sickness in humans, and many diseases in domestic animals.

Origin of trypanosome

1
1900–05; <Greek trȳpano- (combining form of trȳ́panon borer) + -some3

Other words from trypanosome

  • try·pan·o·so·mal, try·pan·o·som·ic [trih-pan-uh-som-ik, trip-uh-nuh-], /trɪˌpæn əˈsɒm ɪk, ˌtrɪp ə nə-/, adjective

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British Dictionary definitions for trypanosome

trypanosome

/ (ˈtrɪpənəˌsəʊm) /


noun
  1. any parasitic flagellate protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, which lives in the blood of vertebrates, is transmitted by certain insects, and causes sleeping sickness and certain other diseases

Origin of trypanosome

1
C19: from New Latin Trypanosoma, from Greek trupanon borer + sōma body

Derived forms of trypanosome

  • trypanosomal or trypanosomic (ˌtrɪpənəˈsɒmɪk), adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for trypanosome

trypanosome

[ trĭ-pănə-sōm′ ]


  1. Any of various parasitic flagellate protozoans of the genus Trypanosoma that can cause serious diseases, such as sleeping sickness. They are transmitted by the bite of certain insects, such as tsetse flies.

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