microfilament

[ mahy-kruh-fil-uh-muh nt ]
/ ˌmaɪ krəˈfɪl ə mənt /

noun Cell Biology.

a minute, narrow tubelike cell structure composed of a protein similar to actin, occurring singly and in bundles, involved in cytoplasmic movement and changes in cell shape.

Origin of microfilament

First recorded in 1960–65; micro- + filament

OTHER WORDS FROM microfilament

mi·cro·fil·a·men·tous [mahy-kroh-fil-uh-men-tuh s] /ˌmaɪ kroʊˌfɪl əˈmɛn təs/, adjective

Words nearby microfilament

microfauna, microfiber, microfibre, microfibril, microfiche, microfilament, microfilaremia, microfilaria, microfilm, microfilm plotter, microfilter

British Dictionary definitions for microfilament

microfilament
/ (ˌmaɪkrəʊˈfɪləmənt) /

noun

thin filament, composed of the protein actin and associated proteins, that occurs abundantly in muscle and in the cytoplasm of other cells

Medical definitions for microfilament

microfilament
[ mī′krō-fĭl′ə-mənt ]

n.

Any of the minute fibers located throughout the cytoplasm of cells, composed of actin and functioning primarily in maintaining the structural integrity of a cell.