foraminifer

[ fawr-uh-min-uh-fer, for- ]

noun,plural for·a·min·i·fers, fo·ram·i·nif·er·a [fuh-ram-uh-nif-er-uh]. /fəˌræm əˈnɪf ər ə/.
  1. any chiefly marine protozoan of the sarcodinian order Foraminifera, typically having a linear, spiral, or concentric shell perforated by small holes or pores through which pseudopodia extend.

Origin of foraminifer

1
1835–45; <New Latin Foraminifera, equivalent to Latin forāmin-, stem of forāmenforamen + -ifera;see -i-, -fer
  • Also called fo·ram·i·nif·er·an [fuh-ram-uh-nif-er-uhn], /fəˌræm əˈnɪf ər ən/, foram.

Other words from foraminifer

  • fo·ram·i·nif·er·al, fo·ram·i·nif·er·ous, adjective

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How to use foraminifer in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for foraminifer

foraminifer

/ (ˌfɒrəˈmɪnɪfə) /


noun
  1. any marine protozoan of the phylum Foraminifera, having a shell with numerous openings through which cytoplasmic processes protrude: Often shortened to: foram See also globigerina, nummulite

Origin of foraminifer

1
C19: from New Latin, from foramen + -fer

Derived forms of foraminifer

  • foraminiferal (fɒˌræmɪˈnɪfərəl) or foraminiferous, adjective

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