| 释义 |
unicellular, a. (and n.) Biol.|juːnɪˈsɛljʊlə(r)|
[ad. mod.L. ūnicellulār-is (whence also F. unicellulaire): see uni- and cellular a.]
1. Composed or consisting of, having, a single cell; said esp. of the organisms belonging to the primary divisions of the animal and vegetable kingdoms.
Also in recent use as n.
1858Carpenter Veg. Phys. §35 The minute unicellular plants, known by the name of Diatomaceæ. 1875Darwin Insectiv. Pl. xiv. 329 All the leaves contained unicellular and other Algæ. 1892Mivart Ess. & Crit. II. 437 The distinction between unicellular and multicellular animals.
2. Characterized by the formation or presence of a single cell or cells.
1863Dana Man. Geol. 747 Plants in passing from the unicellular state by growth lose in power. 1892J. Tait Mind in Matter (ed. 3) 58 In the animal world colonies are the next approach of unicellular to multicellular organisation. |