multicellularadj.
/ˌmʌltɪˈsɛljᵿlə/, U.S. /ˌməltiˈsɛljələr/, /ˌməltaɪˈsɛljələr/; see also multi- comb. form. Composed of several or many cells.
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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
1857 A. Henfrey Elem. Course Bot. 450 Multicellular filaments.
1884 F. O. Bower & D. H. Scott tr. H. A. de Bary Compar. Anat. Phanerogams & Ferns 95 The celebrated glands of the Hop..are multicellular peltate scales.
1924 Amer. Mercury Nov. 296/1 In the case of the rat all the cells throughout the process stick together to form a single multicellular individual.
1949 H. R. Byers & R. R. Braham Thunderstorm i. 25/2 As a multicellular storm develops, each successive cell attains a greater height than did the previous ones.
1950 Official Gaz. (U.S. Patent Office) 11 July 403/1 Solid masses of multicellular expanded synthetic resinous material.
1969 Gloss. Acoustical Terms (B.S.I.) 38 Multi-cellular horn, a horn subdivided for a substantial part or the whole of its length to give juxtaposed mouths.
2000 C. Tudge Variety of Life ii. i. 101 Five of these kingdoms contain a predominance of organisms that are multicellular and large: animals, plants, fungi, brown seaweeds.., and red seaweeds.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, March 2003; most recently modified version published online June 2022).
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adj.1857