Lexic.us

Definition of Animalcule

1. Noun. Microscopic organism such as an amoeba or paramecium.

Definition of Animalcule

1. n. A small animal, as a fly, spider, etc.

Definition of Animalcule

1. Noun. An older term for a minute or microscopic animal or protozoan. ¹

2. Noun. (archaic) A tiny animal, as a mouse or insect (fly, mosquito, midge). ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Animalcule

1. [n -S]

Medical Definition of Animalcule

1. 1. A small animal, as a fly, spider, etc. 2. An animal, invisible, or nearly so, to the naked eye. See Infusoria. Many of the so-called animalcules have been shown to be plants, having locomotive powers something like those of animals. Among these are Volvox, the Desmidiacae, and the siliceous Diatomaceae. Spermatic animalcules. See Spermatozoa. Origin: As if fr. A L. Animalculum, dim. Of animal. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Animalcule

Literary usage of Animalcule

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. A Manual of the Infusoria: Including a Description of All Known Flagellate by William Saville-Kent (1880)
"Unfortunately no account of the animalcule inhabiting this elegant lorica ... animalcule pyriform, attached posteriorly by a pedicle which equals its body ..."

2. On diseases of the skin: A System of Cutaneous Medicine by Erasmus Wilson (1868)
"The male of the mange animalcule is furnished with a pair of powerful suek«ri» ... The ova we have seen, but the internal organization of the animalcule is ..."

3. Food Adulteration and Its Detection by Jesse Park Battershall (1887)
"(X) Heteromita ovata ; an animalcule, x 500. ... (jr) Difflugia striolata, the lorica or case ; an animalcule, x 200. ..."

4. Biological Bulletin by Marine Biological Laboratory (Woods Hole, Mass.) (1911)
"THE BOTTLE-animalcule ... known to some microscopists as the Bottle-animalcule, were made in connection with a study of its ' life history and method of ..."

5. A Practical Treatise on the Use of the Microscope: Including the Different by John Thomas Quekett (1852)
"animalcule Cages.—Instruments known by the name of " live boxes " have been in use for many years, and all the old microscopes were furnished with them; ..."

6. The Popular Science Review: A Quarterly Miscellany of Entertaining and (1862)
"THE FLOWER animalcule. *By PH GOSSE, FRS Illustrated by the Author. COTTON. By Dr. LANKESTER, FRS Illustrated by Tuffen West. GRASSES. ..."

7. Chapters on Evolution by Andrew Wilson (1883)
"The egg of such an animal as a " Tardigrade " or Bear-animalcule— ... How perfectly these detai-ls in the animalcule correspond with the stages in the ..."

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