Desmids, which are exclusively freshwater algae, are so named because the first of these green microorganisms to be described were thought to be pairs of cells joined together, and the Greek word desmos means a bond or chain.
Wikipedia foundation.
Desmid — Des mid, Desmidian Des*mid i*an, n. [Gr. desmo s chain + e i^dos form.] (Bot.) A microscopic plant of the family {Desmidi[ae]}, a group of unicellular alg[ae] in which the species have a greenish color, and the cells generally appear as if they… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
desmid — [des′mid] n. [ModL desmidium, dim. < Gr desmos, a chain; akin to dein, to bind: see DIADEM] any of a group of microscopic, freshwater green algae having single cells composed of two identical half cells with the nucleus located between them … English World dictionary
desmid — desmidian, adj. /dez mid/, n. any single celled freshwater algae of the family Desmidiaceae, characterized by a division of the body into mirror image halves joined by a bridge containing the nucleus, and having a spiny or bristly exterior:… … Universalium
desmid — noun Etymology: ultimately from Greek desmos Date: 1862 any of numerous unicellular or colonial green algae (order Zygnematales, especially family Desmidiaceae) … New Collegiate Dictionary
Desmid — Taxobox name = Desmids image width = 300px image caption = regnum = Plantae divisio = Charophyta classis = Zygnemophyceae ordo = Desmidiales subdivision ranks = Families subdivision = Closteriaceae Desmidiaceae Gonatozygaceae PeniaceaeDesmids are … Wikipedia
desmid — Chlorophyte algae that are usually freshwater living and unicellular. Their cell wall often has elaborate ornamented shape … Dictionary of molecular biology
desmid — des·mid (desґmid) unicellular, free floating, aquatic algae characterized by symmetrical, curved, spiny or lacey bodies with a median constriction dividing the cell into two equal halves … Medical dictionary
desmid — [ dɛzmɪd] noun Biology a single celled freshwater alga which appears to be composed of two rigid cells with a shared nucleus. [Family Desmidiaceae.] Origin C19: from mod. L. Desmidium (genus name), from Gk desmos band, chain (because the algae… … English new terms dictionary
desmid — des·mid … English syllables
desmid — des•mid [[t]ˈdɛz mɪd[/t]] n. mcr any green algae of the family Desmidiaceae, each alga being composed of symmetrical half cells bridged by a nucleus and usu. living colonially in a branching mat • Etymology: 1860–65; < NL Desmidium a genus… … From formal English to slang
