[din-uh-flaj-uh-leyt] 
| any of numerous chiefly marine plankton of the phylum Pyrrophyta (or, in some classification schemes, the order Dinoflagellata), usually having two flagella, one in a groove around the body and the other extending from its center. |
| di·no·flag·el·late (dī'nō-flāj'ə-lĭt, -lāt', -flə-jěl'ĭt) n. Any of numerous minute, chiefly marine protozoans of the order Dinoflagellata, characteristically having two flagella and a cellulose covering and forming one of the chief constituents of plankton. They include bioluminescent forms and forms that produce red tide. [From New Latin Dīnoflagellāta, class name : Greek dīnos, whirling (from dīnein, to whirl) + Latin flagellum, flagellum; see flagellum.] |
dinoflagellate di·no·flag·el·late (dī'nō-flāj'ə-lĭt, -lāt', -flə-jěl'ĭt)
n.
Any of numerous chiefly marine flagellates of the order Dinoflagellata, some species of which produce a potent neurotoxin that may cause severe food poisoning following ingestion of parasitized shellfish.
| dinoflagellate (dī'nō-flāj'ə-lĭt) Pronunciation Key
Any of numerous one-celled organisms found mostly in the ocean, usually having two flagella of unequal length and often an armorlike covering of cellulose. Dinoflagellates are one of the main components of plankton. Since dinoflagellates have characteristics of both plants and animals, their classification is controversial. See more at red tide. |
əˈflædʒ