cercaria

[ ser-kair-ee-uh ]
/ sərˈkɛər i ə /

noun, plural cer·car·i·ae [ser-kair-ee-ee] /sərˈkɛər iˌi/. Zoology.

the disk-shaped larva of flukes of the class Trematoda, having a taillike appendage.

Origin of cercaria

1830–40; < New Latin, equivalent to cerc- (< Greek kérkos tail) + -āria -aria

OTHER WORDS FROM cercaria

cer·car·i·al, adjective cer·car·i·an, adjective, noun pseu·do·cer·car·i·a, noun, plural pseu·do·cer·car·i·ae.

Words nearby cercaria

ceratophyllus, ceratopsian, ceratosaur, cerberus, cercal, cercaria, cercis, cerclage, cercocystis, cercopithecoid, cercus

Example sentences from the Web for cercaria

British Dictionary definitions for cercaria

cercaria
/ (səˈkɛərɪə) /

noun plural -iae (-ɪˌiː)

one of the larval forms of trematode worms. It has a short forked tail and resembles an immature adult

Derived forms of cercaria

cercarial, adjective cercarian, adjective, noun

Word Origin for cercaria

C19: New Latin, literally: tailed creature, from Greek kerkos tail

Medical definitions for cercaria

cercaria
[ sər-kâr′ē-ə ]

n. pl. cer•car•i•as

The parasitic larva of a trematode worm, having a tail that disappears in the adult stage.