animalcule

n. 微动物 [医] 微动物

发音

UK /ænɪˈmælkjuːl/
其它
US /ˌænəˈmælˌkjul/

词形变化

animalcules 复数 animalcules

释义与例句

n.
  1. 1.

    A sperm cell or spermatozoon; also, the embryo that was formerly thought to be contained inside a spermatozoon in a fully developed state.

    历史 医学
  2. 2.

    A microscopic aquatic animal, including protozoa and rotifers.

    古体 生物 动物学
  3. 3.

    A small animal.

    废旧

词汇关系

名词

同义词 1

animalculum

上位词 2

being organism

相关短语

slipper animalcule bell animalcule globe animalcule eye animalcule wheel animalcule trumpet animalcule

词源

Learned borrowing from Late Latin animalculum (“lowly or small animal”) + English -cule (diminutive suffix). Animalculum is derived from Latin animal (“animal; living creature”) + -culum (diminutive suffix); and animal from animāle, the nominative neuter singular of animālis (“animate, living; relating to living creatures”), from anima (“breath; life; soul, spirit”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”)) + -ālis (suffix forming adjectives of relationship). The English word is analysable as animal + -cule.

来源：wiktionary