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. | 1. | Biology. minute hairlike organelles, identical in structure to flagella, that line the surfaces of certain cells and beat in rhythmic waves, providing locomotion to ciliate protozoans and moving liquids along internal epithelial tissue in animals. |
| 2. | Anatomy. the eyelashes. |

cil·i·a (sĭl'ē-ə) n. Plural of cilium. |
cilium cil·i·um (sĭl'ē-əm)
n. pl. cil·i·a (-ē-ə)
See eyelash.
A microscopic hairlike process extending from the surface of a cell or unicellular organism, capable of rhythmical motion, and acting with other such structures to cause the movement of the cell or of the surrounding medium.