monocellularadj.
/ˌmɒnə(ʊ)ˈsɛljᵿlə/, U.S. /ˌmɑnəˈsɛljələr/ Biology.
1. Consisting of a single cell; = unicellular adj. Also figurative.
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the world > life > biology > organism > organisms by number or kind of cells > [adjective]
monocellular1854
multicellular1857
unicellular1858
monoplastic1877
unicelled1877
multicelled1884
acellular1886
monoplastid1889
tricellular1891
single-celled1899
mixed-celled1908
microcellular1909
1854 J. Wood in Todd's Cycl. Anat. & Physiol. V. 129/2 The simpler and mono~cellular Algæ.
1880–1 W. Saville-Kent Man. Infusoria I. 99 The mono~cellular unimpregnated ovum.
1925 Amer. Mercury Jan. 90/1 The idea involved is just on the level of the monocellular intelligence of the flickergraph.
1977 Immunology 32 245 The lysis of the monocellular parasite Trypanosoma cyclops by normal human serum.
1981 Jrnl. Reprod. & Fertility 61 91 Eggs were classified for analysis as monocellular, bicellular, tricellular equal, tricellular unequal, [etc.].
1994 Internat. Jrnl. Insect Morphol. 23 319 These probable glandular units are monocellular.
2. Consisting of or involving single cells; (of a layer) one cell deep (cf. monolayer n.).
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1975 Virchows Archiv A. 365 25 In some cases these endothelial changes were such, that only one or two cells were involved; such changes will be referred to henceforth as monocellular changes.
1988 Invasion & Metastasis 8 31 A confluent monocellular layer of fibroblastic cells.
1996 Toxicology 112 227 DNA content measurements were carried out in monocellular suspensions of mouse testis.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2002; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1854