[proh-tuh-zoh-uh] 
| a major grouping or superphylum of the kingdom Protista, comprising the protozoans. |
[proh-tuh-zoh-uh
n] noun, plural -zo⋅ans, (especially collectively) -zo⋅a [-zoh-uh] , adjective Biology| 1. | any of a diverse group of eukaryotes, of the kingdom Protista, that are primarily unicellular, existing singly or aggregating into colonies, are usually nonphotosynthetic, and are often classified further into phyla according to their capacity for and means of motility, as by pseudopods, flagella, or cilia. |
| 2. | of, pertaining to, or characteristic of a protozoan. |
[proh-tuh-zoh-on, -uhn] | pro·to·zo·an (prō'tə-zō'ən) n. pl. pro·to·zo·ans or pro·to·zo·a (-zō'ə) also pro·to·zo·ons Any of a large group of single-celled, usually microscopic, eukaryotic organisms, such as amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans. [From New Latin Protozōa, former subkingdom name : proto- + -zōa, pl. of -zōon, -zoon.] pro'to·zo'an, pro'to·zo'al, pro'to·zo'ic adj. |
protozoa pro·to·zo·a (prō'tə-zō'ə)
n.
Plural of protozoan.
protozoan pro·to·zo·an (prō'tə-zō'ən) or pro·to·zo·on (-ŏn')
n. pl. pro·to·zo·a (-zō'ə) or pro·to·zo·ans or pro·to·zo·a or pro·to·zo·ons
Any of a group of single-celled, usually microscopic, eukaryotic organisms, such as amoebas, ciliates, flagellates, and sporozoans.
| protozoan (prō'tə-zō'ən) Pronunciation Key
Plural protozoans or protozoa Any of a large group of one-celled organisms (called protists) that live in water or as parasites. Many protozoans move about by means of appendages known as cilia or flagella. Protozoans include the amoebas, flagellates, foraminiferans, and ciliates. Their traditional classification as the subkingdom Protozoa is still used for convenience, but it is now known that protozoans represent several evolutionarily distinct groups. See more at protist. |