unicellular

/'ju:ni'seljulə/

Thân thiện

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having or consisting of a single cell: Describes an organism or structure that is composed of only one cell, which performs all necessary life functions.

Usage

• The term "unicellular" is used primarily in biological and scientific contexts to describe organisms like bacteria, protozoa, and some algae and fungi. It contrasts with "multicellular."
• It functions as an attributive adjective, typically placed before the noun it modifies (e.g., unicellular organism).

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Amoebas are classic examples of unicellular organisms.
  • Yeast is a unicellular fungus used in baking and brewing.
  • The pond water was teeming with various unicellular life forms.

Advanced Usage

• In compound scientific terms: While "unicellular" itself is the target word, it forms the basis for related compound terms.
  • Unicellularity (n): The state or condition of being unicellular.

    • The evolution of multicellularity from unicellularity was a major step in life's history.

Variants and Related Words

• Acellular (adj): Not composed of cells or lacking a cellular structure. (Note: This is different from "unicellular," which means having one cell.)
• Multicellular (adj): Consisting of many cells. This is the direct antonym of "unicellular."

Synonyms

• Single-celled: This is a near-identical synonym, often used interchangeably in less formal scientific contexts.
  • Single-celled organisms are found in almost every environment on Earth.

Antonyms

• Multicellular: Consisting of more than one cell.
• Pluricellular: Another term for multicellular.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. having or consisting of a single cell