prokaryote

or pro·car·y·ote

[ proh-kar-ee-oht, -ee-uh t ]
/ proʊˈkær iˌoʊt, -i ət /

noun

any cellular organism that has no nuclear membrane, no organelles in the cytoplasm except ribosomes, and has its genetic material in the form of single continuous strands forming coils or loops, characteristic of all organisms in the kingdom Monera, as the bacteria and blue-green algae.
Compare eukaryote.

Origin of prokaryote

taken as singular of New Latin Prokaryota, earlier Procaryotes (1925); see pro-1, eukaryote

OTHER WORDS FROM prokaryote

pro·kar·y·ot·ic [proh-kar-ee-ot-ik] /proʊˌkær iˈɒt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby prokaryote

projective property, projective test, projector, projet, prokaryon, prokaryote, prokaryotes, prokhorov, prokofiev, prokopyevsk, prolabium

British Dictionary definitions for prokaryotes

prokaryote

procaryote

/ (prəʊˈkærɪɒt) /

noun

any organism having cells in each of which the genetic material is in a single DNA chain, not enclosed in a nucleus. Bacteria and archaeans are prokaryotes Compare eukaryote

Derived forms of prokaryote

prokaryotic or procaryotic (prəʊˌkærɪˈɒtɪk), adjective

Word Origin for prokaryote

from pro- ² + karyo- + -ote as in zygote

Medical definitions for prokaryotes

prokaryote

n.

An organism of the kingdom Prokaryotae, constituting the bacteria and cyanobacteria, characterized by the absence of a nuclear membrane and by DNA that is not organized into chromosomes.

Other words from prokaryote

pro•kar′y•ot′ic (-ŏt′ĭk) adj.

Scientific definitions for prokaryotes

prokaryote
[ prō-kăr′ē-ōt′ ]

Any of a wide variety of one-celled organisms of the kingdom Monera (or Prokaryota) that are the most primitive and ancient known forms of life. Prokaryotes lack a distinct cell nucleus and their DNA is not organized into chromosomes. They also lack the internal structures bound by membranes called organelles, such as mitochondria. At the molecular level, prokaryotes differ from eukaryotes in the structure of their lipids and of certain metabolic enzymes, and in how genes are expressed for protein synthesis. Prokaryotes reproduce asexually and include the bacteria and blue-green algae. Also called moneran Compare eukaryote. See Table at taxonomy.

Cultural definitions for prokaryotes

prokaryotes
[ (proh-kar-ee-oht) ]

Organisms whose cells do not have a nucleus in which DNA is housed and which lack many of the organelles found in more advanced cells. The kingdom of Monera or Prokaryotae is composed of single-celled prokaryotes. (Compare eukaryotes.)

notes for prokaryotes

It is thought that prokaryotes were the first cells to appear on Earth.