unicellularadj.n.
/ˌjuːnᵻˈsɛljᵿlə/, U.S. /ˌjunəˈsɛljələr/ Biology.
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 as n.
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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
1858 E. Lankester & W. B. Carpenter Veg. Physiol. (new ed.) §35 The minute unicellular plants, known by the name of Diatomaceæ.
1875 C. Darwin Insectivorous Plants xiv. 329 All the leaves contained unicellular and other Algæ.
1892 St. G. Mivart Ess. & Crit. II. 437 The distinction between unicellular and multicellular animals.
2. Characterized by the formation or presence of a single cell or cells.
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1863 J. D. Dana Man. Geol. 747 Plants in passing from the unicellular state by growth lose in power.
1892 J. Tait Mind in Matter (ed. 3) 58 In the animal world colonies are the next approach of unicellular to multicellular organisation.
3. Having only one cella.
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1930 Music & Lett. Apr. 150 In the Thomaskirche there seems to be no special region of ‘response’, probably due to the unicellular nave, the absence of transepts, [etc.].
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1924; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.n.1858