trichocyst
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Trichocyst — Trich o*cyst, n. [Gr. tri x, tricho s, a hair + ? bag.] (Zo[ o]l.) A lasso cell. [1913 Webster] … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
trichocyst — [trik′ə sist΄] n. [ TRICHO + CYST] any of the many tiny, rodlike, stinging and attachment organelles embedded in the ectoplasm of many ciliated protozoans trichocystic [trik′ōsis′tik] adj … English World dictionary
Trichocyst — A trichocyst is a structure in the cortex of certain ciliate and flagellate protozoans consisting of a cavity and long, thin threads that can be ejected in response to certain stimuli. Trichocysts may be widely distributed over an organism or… … Wikipedia
trichocyst — Small membrane bounded vesicle lying below the pellicle of many ciliates. Fusion of the trichocyst with the plasma membrane occurs at a predictable site which can therefore be examined for membrane specialization … Dictionary of molecular biology
trichocyst — noun Date: 1859 any of the minute lassoing or stinging organelles of protozoans and especially of many ciliates … New Collegiate Dictionary
trichocyst — trichocystic, adj. /trik euh sist /, n. Zool. an organ of offense and defense embedded in the outer cytoplasm of certain protozoans, consisting of a small elongated sac containing a fine, hairlike filament capable of being ejected. [1850 55;… … Universalium
trichocyst — One of a number of structures, in the form of minute elongated cysts, arranged radially around the periphery of a protozoan cell and containing fluid which when discharged serves for offense or defense; found in ciliates, such as Paramecium… … Medical dictionary
trichocyst — n. organ in the protoplasm of some single celled organisms which can eject a filament for purposes of offense or defense … English contemporary dictionary
trichocyst — n. (Zool.) Lasso cell … New dictionary of synonyms
trichocyst — trich·o·cyst … English syllables
