rotifer

[ roh-tuh-fer ]
/ ˈroʊ tə fər /

noun

any microscopic animal of the phylum (or class) Rotifera, found in fresh and salt waters, having one or more rings of cilia on the anterior end.
Also called wheel animalcule.

Origin of rotifer

From New Latin, dating back to 1785–95; see origin at Rotifera

OTHER WORDS FROM rotifer

ro·tif·er·al [roh-tif-er-uh l] /roʊˈtɪf ər əl/, ro·tif·er·ous, adjective

Words nearby rotifer

rothko, mark, rothmund's syndrome, rothschild, rothschilds, roti, rotifer, rotifera, rotiform, rotisserie, rotisserie league baseball, rotl

Example sentences from the Web for rotifer

British Dictionary definitions for rotifer

rotifer
/ (ˈrəʊtɪfə) /

noun

any minute aquatic multicellular invertebrate of the phylum Rotifera, having a ciliated wheel-like organ used in feeding and locomotion: common constituents of freshwater plankton Also called: wheel animalcule

Derived forms of rotifer

rotiferal (rəʊˈtɪfərəl) or rotiferous, adjective

Word Origin for rotifer

C18: from New Latin Rotifera, from Latin rota wheel + ferre to bear

Scientific definitions for rotifer

rotifer
[ rō′tə-fər ]

Any of various tiny, multicellular aquatic animals of the phylum Rotifera, having a wheel-like ring of cilia at their front ends. The cilia trap small organisms for food. Rotifers are grouped by some scientists together with nematodes and some other invertebrates as aschelminths.