flagellum
[ fluh-jel-uh m ]
/ fləˈdʒɛl əm /
noun, plural fla·gel·la [fluh-jel-uh] /fləˈdʒɛl ə/, fla·gel·lums.
Biology.
a long, lashlike appendage serving as an organ of locomotion in protozoa, sperm cells, etc.
Botany.
a runner.
Also called clavola. Entomology.
(in an antenna) the whiplike portion above the basal joints.
a whip or lash.
Origin of flagellum
1800–10; < Latin: whip, lash, diminutive of
flagrum a whip, scourge
Words nearby flagellum
flagellated,
flagellation,
flagelliform,
flagellin,
flagellosis,
flagellum,
flageolet,
flagfish,
flagg,
flagging,
flaggy
Example sentences from the Web for flagellum
British Dictionary definitions for flagellum
flagellum
/ (fləˈdʒɛləm) /
noun plural -la (-lə) or -lums
biology
a long whiplike outgrowth from a cell that acts as an organ of locomotion: occurs in some protozoans, gametes, spores, etc
botany
a long thin supple shoot or runner
zoology
the terminal whiplike part of an arthropod's appendage, esp of the antenna of many insects
Derived forms of flagellum
flagellar, adjectiveWord Origin for flagellum
C19: from Latin: a little whip, from
flagrum a whip, lash
Medical definitions for flagellum
flagellum
[ flə-jĕl′əm ]
n. pl. fla•gel•la (-jĕl′ə)
A threadlike appendage, especially a whiplike extension of certain cells or organisms that functions as an organ of locomotion.
Other words from flagellum
fla•gel′lar (-jĕl′ər) adj.Scientific definitions for flagellum
flagellum
[ flə-jĕl′əm ]
Plural flagella
A slender whiplike part extending from some single-celled organisms, such as the dinoflagellates, that moves rapidly back and forth to impart movement to the organism.