Word Study
cilium
WORDNET DICTIONARY
Noun cilium has 2 senses
- cilium(n = noun.animal) Array - a hairlike projection from the surface of a cell; provides locomotion in free-swimming unicellular organisms; Array is a kind of cell organ, cell organelle, organelle
- cilium(n = noun.body) eyelash, lash - any of the short curved hairs that grow from the edges of the eyelids; Array is a kind of hair
Derived forms adjective cilial1, adjective ciliary2
is a part of eyelid, lid, palpebra
Derived form adjective ciliary3
OXFORD DICTIONARY
cilium, n. (pl. cilia)
1 a short minute hairlike vibrating structure on the surface of some cells, causing currents in the surrounding fluid.
2 an eyelash.
1 a short minute hairlike vibrating structure on the surface of some cells, causing currents in the surrounding fluid.
2 an eyelash.
Derivative
ciliary adj. ciliate adj. ciliated adj. ciliation n.
Etymology
L, = eyelash
ROGET THESAURUS
cilium
Filament
N filament, line, fiber, fibril, funicle, vein, hair, capillament, cilium, cilia, pilus, pili, tendril, gossamer, hair stroke, veinlet, venula, venule, wire, string, thread, packthread, cotton, sewing silk, twine, twist, whipcord, tape, ribbon, cord, rope, yarn, hemp, oakum, jute, strip, shred, slip, spill, list, band, fillet, fascia, ribbon, riband, roll, lath, splinter, shiver, shaving, beard, ramification, strand, filamentous, filamentiferous, filaceous, filiform, fibrous, fibrillous, thread-like, wiry, stringy, ropy, capillary, capilliform, funicular, wire-drawn, anguilliform, flagelliform, hairy, taeniate, taeniform, taenioid, venose, venous.
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